Balendra Shah UN speech: Full transcript of Nepal prime minister’s address to the 81st UN General Assembly
Summary
Nepal’s prime minister warned the UN General Assembly that catastrophic floods and climate change are devastating Himalayan communities and demand urgent global action. He called for climate justice, stronger regional cooperation, and more grant-based support for recovery and resilience.
Key Points
- Nepal’s address to the 81st UN General Assembly focused on catastrophic floods, climate disruption, and the urgent need for global climate justice.
- The speech said the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli disaster caused massive loss of life and destruction, with more than 1,400 confirmed deaths and over 6,000 people still missing.
- Nepal proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China to share data, monitor glacial lakes and improve early warning systems.
- The speaker urged richer countries and global institutions to provide more grant-based climate finance instead of loans, arguing that vulnerable countries should not pay for a crisis they did not cause.
