Nepal PM urges climate justice after ‘Himalayan tsunami’ devastates country

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the UN General Assembly that catastrophic floods in northern Nepal, described as a 'Himalayan Tsunami,' killed at least 1,400 people and left more than 6,000 missing. The disaster, which struck four weeks earlier, caused damage estimated at around 10 per cent of Nepal’s GDP, devastating mountain communities and crossing into China and India. Shah emphasized that the floods were not merely a local tragedy but a global warning about the destabilizing effects of a warming climate on the Himalayan ecosystem.

Shah highlighted Nepal’s minimal contribution to global greenhouse-gas emissions—less than 0.1 per cent—while bearing the brunt of climate-induced disasters that destroy infrastructure and force the country to borrow for recovery. He criticized existing climate financing mechanisms, including the Loss and Damage Fund and Global Environment Facility, as 'grossly inadequate' for addressing the needs of vulnerable nations. The Prime Minister proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India, and China to enhance cross-border disaster response and early-warning systems.

The Prime Minister drew a stark contrast between the rapid global logistics supporting war and the broken supply chains for essential goods like fertilizer and fuel in Nepal. He linked climate vulnerability to deeper inequalities in the international system, where poorer countries face disruptions from conflicts and decisions beyond their control. Shah argued that Nepal, like others, is 'hit by the climate we did not warm and hit again by the wars we did not start,' yet remains committed to multilateral solutions.

Shah tied his international appeal to domestic political renewal, noting Nepal’s recent democratic mandate reflecting a new generation’s demand for integrity and accountability. He called for investment in resilience, stronger infrastructure, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, ending with a plea to heed the warnings from the Himalayas and act decisively before the next disaster strikes.