Nepal is preparing to take its demand for climate compensation to the international stage following devastating floods that caused widespread deaths, destruction and displacement across several districts. The Himalayan nation is increasingly framing the disaster not merely as a humanitarian crisis but as a question of climate justice, arguing that countries with high greenhouse gas emissions should bear greater responsibility for losses suffered by vulnerable nations.
Nepal has identified major global emitters, including India, China and the United States, while stressing that its own contribution to global emissions is comparatively small. Kathmandu's position is that countries facing severe climate-related disasters despite having contributed little to the problem deserve financial support for the losses and damage they endure.
The issue is gaining political prominence in Nepal, with Prime Minister Balendra Shah reportedly being considered for a visit to New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly. If he travels to the UN, Shah could use the global platform to draw attention to the devastation caused by the floods in the Bhotekoshi river basin and press Nepal's case for climate justice and international financial assistance.
Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has indicated that Kathmandu wants to change the way the international community views assistance following climate-related disasters.
Rather than treating post-disaster support simply as humanitarian aid, Nepal wants it to be discussed in terms of responsibility and compensation. Khanal has described international assistance as a matter of "moral liability" rather than charity, arguing that nations responsible for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions have a responsibility towards countries disproportionately affected by climate change.
"We are shifting our diplomatic framework from aid to justice and compensation," Khanal said in an interview with Kantipur TV.
As part of the effort, Nepal has formally sought urgent financial assistance from the UN-backed Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. Kathmandu is also preparing to raise the issue on other international platforms in an effort to secure greater recognition of the economic, social and humanitarian consequences of climate disasters.
The possibility of Prime Minister Balen Shah personally attending the UN General Assembly could give Nepal's campaign additional political weight.
According to reports, Shah may travel to New York for the 81st UNGA, which begins on September 8, with the general debate scheduled during the third and fourth weeks of September. Foreign Minister Khanal had earlier been expected to represent Nepal at the gathering.
If Shah attends, Nepal could use his address to highlight the scale of the recent floods and call for greater international support for climate-vulnerable countries. The move would also underline Kathmandu's effort to make climate-related loss and damage a central part of its diplomatic agenda.
The latest crisis began on August 26, when catastrophic flooding swept through the Bhotekoshi river basin. Parts of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts in Bagmati province were severely affected.
The floods damaged or destroyed homes, roads and bridges and caused extensive destruction to hydropower infrastructure. Thousands of people were displaced, while rescue agencies faced major challenges in reaching affected communities.
Nepal has described the disaster as a "Himalayan Tsunami". Reports indicate that more than 1,100 people have died and around 4,000 remain missing. The flooding has reportedly been linked to a massive rock-and-ice avalanche near the Nepal-China border.
Search and rescue operations are continuing as authorities attempt to locate missing people and provide emergency assistance to survivors.
While Nepal prepares to make its case for climate compensation internationally, India has stepped up its immediate humanitarian response.
India on Wednesday sent a fifth aircraft carrying relief and rescue assistance to flood-hit Nepal. The latest consignment included an 11-member specialised rescue team and 5.5 tonnes of essential medicines.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the aircraft had departed for Nepal with the rescue personnel and medical supplies. With the latest shipment, India's total relief assistance to Nepal since the disaster has reached 68.5 tonnes.
India has also deployed doctors and paramedics, besides sending technical personnel and specialised equipment to assist search and rescue operations. Emergency teams have reportedly rescued more than 12,000 people, although operations to locate those still missing remain underway.
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