Nepal floods kill 682, foreign minister warns of escalating climate change threats

Nepal is grappling with the devastating aftermath of severe floods and landslides that have claimed at least 682 lives and left nearly 3,000 people missing. The disaster, which struck on August 26th along the border with China's Tibet region, has prompted urgent calls for international assistance.

Nepal's Foreign Minister, Shisir Khanal, has issued a stark warning, highlighting the escalating threat of climate change to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. He emphasized that while Nepal contributes less than 0.01% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its population is disproportionately affected by climate change impacts. "We have repeatedly stressed that Nepal's greenhouse gas emissions are less than 0.01% of the global total, yet the people of Nepal are among the main victims of climate change and its impacts," Khanal stated.

The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse, leading to massive mudslides that swept down mountain valleys, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. While the exact cause of the collapse remains unclear, climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers worldwide, increasing the risk of such catastrophic events. Khanal has engaged in discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, agreeing to enhance the sharing of real-time hydrological data, including imagery, satellite and hydrological data, and early warnings for upstream barrier lakes.

Nepal, a landlocked country of 30 million people with a struggling economy, is appealing for professional support from the international community for its post-disaster reconstruction efforts. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle estimates the rebuilding costs to be between $4 billion and $5 billion. The melting of Himalayan glaciers, which provide crucial water resources for nearly 2 billion people downstream, exposes communities along their path to unpredictable and costly disaster risks. The thawing of permafrost also contributes to unstable slopes, increasing the risk of landslides.

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We have repeatedly stressed that Nepal's greenhouse gas emissions are less than 0.01% of the global total, yet the people of Nepal are among the main victims of climate change and its impacts.