Nepal flood disaster puts climate justice under the spotlight

Days after devastating floods swept through Nepal’s Bhotekoshi-Trisuli river basin, the scale of the disaster is still coming into view. More than 1,250 people have been confirmed dead, while almost 4,000 remain missing. Families are still waiting for news as search and rescue operations continue.

The floods destroyed buildings, bridges and roads, along with more than a dozen hydropower facilities. Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority estimates the damage to public and private infrastructure at $2.6 billion, or €2.24 billion.

The exact cause of the glacial collapse remains unclear. But experts say glaciers are melting worldwide as the climate changes, increasing the risk of disasters of this kind. For Nepal, the catastrophe has therefore raised a question that reaches beyond immediate rescue and reconstruction: who should pay for the damage faced by countries that have contributed little to global warming?

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As we work tirelessly to address the damage caused by this sudden and massive disaster, a deeper question has also emerged: How did this destruction happen to us?

Prime Minister Balendra Shah called the response a “global responsibility” while addressing Parliament. “As we work tirelessly to address the damage caused by this sudden and massive disaster, a deeper question has also emerged: How did this destruction happen to us?” he said. Shah added that managing the disaster’s effects should be treated as a shared responsibility of the international community.

Kathmandu plans to raise climate justice at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Shah is expected to lead Nepal’s delegation. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Nepal would seek international support and a moral commitment to address climate change’s effects, while also working to build a coalition of climate-vulnerable countries. Nepal emits about 0.1% of global greenhouse gases and roughly 0.5 tons of carbon dioxide per person each year. The government estimates that adapting to a rapidly changing mountain environment could cost $18 billion to $20 billion between 2025 and 2035, with international climate finance expected to cover most of the bill.

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We will make our case about the impact of climate change and seek global support and moral obligation to tackle it.