Nepal’s prime minister addressed the UN general assembly on Thursday, characterizing a catastrophic flood from the previous month as a cautionary message about the consequences of climate change. The disaster claimed at least 1,400 lives and was attributed by international scientists to permafrost melting caused by climate change, which destabilized a glacier and triggered the massive flooding event.
The prime minister emphasized that Nepal bears minimal responsibility for the climate crisis, accounting for less than one-tenth of 1% of global heat-trapping gas emissions, yet faces severe consequences from climate-driven disasters. He pointed out that recovery and reconstruction needs from the flood were estimated at approximately 10% of the country’s gross domestic product. The leader argued against requiring vulnerable nations to assume additional debt for rebuilding efforts and called instead for adequate grant-based financial support from the international community.
The Nepalese government has requested $20m from the UN’s loss and damage fund, which was established in 2022 as part of the Paris climate agreement framework. The prime minister criticized the existing international financial aid system as inadequate and overly bureaucratic. He proposed enhanced regional cooperation among Nepal, India, and China on climate resilience, including mechanisms to share satellite data, monitor glacial lakes, and improve early-warning systems for disaster response.
The flood’s impact extended beyond immediate casualties, with search and recovery operations continuing weeks after the event and more than 6,000 people remaining missing. The disaster destroyed transportation infrastructure, educational facilities, homes, and livelihoods, disrupting the nation’s development trajectory. The World Bank made $170m in emergency financing available, while the United States announced $31m in additional flood recovery assistance, bringing its total contribution to $36m.
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