After Nepal’s recent disaster, it wants to test whether COP31 can deliver climate justice
Summary
Nepal is pressing for rapid, grant-based climate finance after the Rasuwa disaster killed 1,455 people and left thousands missing or injured. As COP31 approaches, families are still waiting for assistance while the country tests whether the UN loss-and-damage fund can respond quickly enough.
Key Points
- The Rasuwa disaster on August 26 killed 1,455 people, injured nearly 7,000 and caused an estimated $4.7 billion in recovery needs.
- Nepal has appealed to the UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage for a rapid response, but the fund remains underfunded and has never yet disbursed money.
- Officials and activists argue Nepal needs grant-based climate finance rather than loans, especially as rebuilding costs rise and families continue to wait for relief.
- The story links Nepal’s experience to broader climate justice debates ahead of COP31 in Turkey next month.
