A glacial mountain collapse on the Nepal-China border triggered last month’s floods, killing more than 1,400 people; 6,000 remain missing. At the UN, Prime Minister Balendra Shah called the floods a warning about climate change and urged countries to help Nepal adapt.
Scientists from World Weather Attribution described the disaster as a “compound crisis,” saying local geological instability combined with long-term warming had led to glacier retreat and permafrost thaw. Shah said Nepal contributes less than 0.1 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. He proposed a Himalaya Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China to share satellite data and expertise, monitor glacial lakes and strengthen joint early-warning systems.
Nepal has requested the maximum $20 million available from the UN’s Loss and Damage fund, while a preliminary government assessment puts the disaster’s cost at $5 billion. The fund has yet to make its first disbursement. The United States pledged an additional $31 million for flood recovery. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told AFP that the G7 had informally promised support at a meeting Wednesday; Britain also vowed to help.
