Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged world leaders to take stronger action against climate change, describing the devastating floods that struck the country last month as a “warning to the world.”
Shah made the remarks while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2026. He said the August disaster was not merely a local tragedy and called on world leaders to recognise the growing dangers posed by climate change.
At least 1,453 people were killed when mud, rocks and water swept through northern Nepal and areas along the China-Tibet border on August 26 following a glacial collapse. Nepal’s disaster management authority said about 5,500 people remained missing, while 13,795 had been rescued.
Shah said Nepal contributes less than 0.1 percent of global heat-trapping emissions but is suffering severe consequences from a changing climate. He noted that glaciers are retreating, mountain slopes are becoming unstable and rivers are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
He also called for greater international support to help Nepal adapt to climate-related disasters. The government has estimated the damage from the floods at about $5 billion and has requested $20 million from the UN’s loss and damage fund.
Shah proposed the creation of a “Himalaya Climate Resilience Mechanism” involving Nepal, India and China. The initiative would promote the sharing of satellite data and technical expertise, monitoring of glacial lakes and stronger regional early-warning systems.
The United States has also pledged an additional $31 million to support flood recovery efforts in Nepal.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution group said the disaster was linked to a combination of factors, including long-term warming, glacier retreat, permafrost thaw and geological instability.
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