Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has described last month’s deadly floods as a “warning to the world,” urging international leaders to take stronger action against the worsening effects of climate change.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Shah said the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli disaster killed at least 1,400 people and demonstrated the growing dangers facing vulnerable countries. He questioned whether world leaders had done enough to respond to repeated warnings from scientists about the climate crisis.
Scientists have linked the floods to melting permafrost and the destabilisation of glaciers in the Himalayas, hazards that are being intensified by rising global temperatures. Shah said Nepal contributes less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but continues to suffer severe consequences.
The 36-year-old prime minister said Nepal’s glaciers are retreating, mountain slopes are becoming unstable and rivers are becoming increasingly unpredictable. He warned that repeated disasters could wipe out years of economic and social development.
Shah also criticised the international climate finance system, saying vulnerable countries face excessive bureaucracy when seeking assistance after climate disasters. He called for faster and more accessible funding, particularly through the international loss and damage mechanism.
“When the house is burning, we do not ask a family to complete 50 forms. We act,” Shah told the assembly, arguing that climate finance should focus on urgent support rather than lengthy procedures.
He urged the United Nations to strengthen efforts on relief, reconstruction and long-term resilience while addressing what he described as international responsibility for climate-related losses.
