From flood disaster to climate warning, Shah makes the Himalayas his UN message
Summary
Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the UN General Assembly that the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods were a warning of escalating climate risks in the Himalayas. He urged grant-based climate finance, stronger cross-border cooperation and a Himalayan climate resilience mechanism led by Nepal, India and China.
Key Points
- Balendra Shah used his UN General Assembly address to frame the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods as a global warning about Himalayan climate risk.
- He said climate-driven disasters are a development emergency for Nepal and called for faster, grant-based international support instead of new debt.
- Shah proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China to share data, improve early warning systems and coordinate disaster response.
- He urged the world to treat the Himalayas as a shared life-support system and to invest more in preparedness, resilient infrastructure and climate adaptation.
