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Nepal Demands Climate Justice, Not Charity, at UN Summit After "Himalayan Tsunami"
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News18•24-09-2026, 16:31
Nepal Demands Climate Justice, Not Charity, at UN Summit After "Himalayan Tsunami"
- •Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal urged world leaders at the UN General Assembly to treat climate action as justice, not charity, following devastating floods.
- •The Bhotekoshi floods, described as a "Himalayan Tsunami," caused over 1,400 deaths and left 6,000 missing, with losses estimated at nearly $5 billion, 15% of Nepal's GDP.
- •Despite contributing less than 0.1% to global greenhouse gas emissions and having high renewable energy use, Nepal suffers disproportionately from climate change.
- •Khanal called for scaled-up, front-loaded, and accessible climate finance, prioritizing adaptation and adequately capitalizing the Loss and Damage fund before disasters strike.
- •UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the call for climate justice, criticizing the inadequacy of the Loss and Damage Fund and demanding polluters pay their share.
Key Questions Answered
Nepal has suffered losses of nearly $5 billion, which accounts for 15 per cent of the country's GDP and a third of its annual budget, following the devastating Bhotekoshi floods on August 26.
Nepal contributes less than 0.1 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions, with 46 per cent of its land covered by forests and over 90 per cent of its energy sourced from hydroelectric power.
The Nepal government has sought UN-backed loss and damage funding of $20 million, while total initial rebuilding and recovery estimates run up into billions.
