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🇫🇷 France /Environment & Climate

Deadly Floods in Nepal: 'We are among the main victims,' Kathmandu blames climate change for disaster

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal urged global unity to protect the Himalayan ecosystem following devastating mudslides that killed over 600 people.
  • Khanal highlighted that Nepal, despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, is disproportionately affected by climate change.
  • The disaster, triggered by a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border, has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands missing, with climate change identified as a major contributing factor.

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called for international cooperation to safeguard the Himalayan ecosystem, emphasizing the nation's vulnerability to climate change in the wake of catastrophic mudslides. The disaster, which struck on Wednesday, has claimed over 600 lives and left thousands missing, with authorities pointing to the accelerating melt of glaciers as a primary driver.

"Nepal emits less than 0.01% of greenhouse gases, but we, the Nepali people, are among the main victims of climate change," Khanal stated, criticizing the global community's response. He urged nations to unite in preserving the fragile Himalayan environment, which provides vital water resources for nearly two billion people.

The mudslide was reportedly caused by the collapse of a glacier near the high-altitude border between China and Nepal, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This event unleashed a torrent of debris downstream. While the exact cause of the glacial collapse remains under investigation, the USGS noted that global warming is accelerating glacier melt worldwide, increasing the risk of such catastrophic events.

Nepal emits less than 0.01 % of greenhouse gases, but we, the Nepali people, are among the main victims of climate change.

— Shisir KhanalNepal's Foreign Minister criticizing the global impact of climate change on his country.

Khanal also reported holding a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, agreeing to enhance the sharing of real-time hydrological data. Beijing confirmed it had provided crucial information to Nepal, including satellite imagery, hydrological data, and early warnings about upstream glacial lakes.

The minister stressed Nepal's need to intensify its research into the evolving dynamics of the Himalayan ecosystem and the risks it poses to the landlocked nation situated between India and China. This includes understanding the impact of melting glaciers on mountain stability, which can lead to landslides and other hazards.

We call on the international community to unite to preserve the Himalayan ecosystem.

— Shisir KhanalNepal's Foreign Minister's plea for global action following the deadly mudslides.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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