KATHMANDU — Nepal is calling on the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters to provide compensation following devastating floods that have wreaked havoc across Himalayan valleys. The recent disaster, which authorities say was triggered by glacial melts linked to climate change, has renewed demands for climate justice from Nepali officials and activists alike.
On August 26, flash floods caused by a glacial collapse swept through multiple valleys in Nepal and Tibet, leaving over 8,000 people dead or missing. The government has estimated recovery and rebuilding costs at approximately $4.74 billion, a sum that Nepal, still burdened by debt from a major earthquake in 2015, is ill-equipped to handle alone. The country’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who took office in March following a wave of youth-led political activism, is expected to address the United Nations General Assembly this week to urge industrialized nations to contribute financially toward Nepal’s climate-related damages.
“Younger generations have been at the forefront of climate activism in Nepal and our government reflects that urgency,” Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said in an interview. “We seek to represent not only Nepali youth but also the global youth calling for climate accountability.” Activists such as Tashi Lhazom and Prakriti Bhattarai Basnet have voiced sharp criticism of wealthy polluting countries, insisting that aid alone is insufficient and that climate reparations are necessary for nations like Nepal, which bear the brunt of environmental damage without having contributed substantially to global emissions.
Nepal’s demands are complicated by geopolitical realities. Situated between India and China — two of the world’s largest current emitters — Nepal faces difficult negotiations. Both neighbors dispute historical responsibility, arguing that Western countries bear greater liability for centuries of industrial pollution. The United States, historically the largest emitter, has previously withdrawn from international climate agreements, further impeding consensus on shared financial commitments.
Nepal’s Environment Minister, Gita Chaudhary, highlighted the need for comprehensive accountability: “Historical emitters need to be held responsible, but current major emitters also share the burden.” Despite receiving about $20 million from a U.N. fund dedicated to vulnerable countries, Nepal’s emergency funding requests following the floods remain unanswered, reflecting broader challenges in securing adequate international climate finance.
Scientific experts broadly agree that Nepal’s emissions are minimal, with nearly all the country’s energy generated through hydropower and forest cover increasing through local management programs. However, linking specific disasters directly to emissions remains complex. Some researchers emphasize the necessity for further analysis before attributing singular events to climate change, underscoring the difficulties Nepal faces in demanding reparations based on science.
The floods have left thousands missing, including Soniya Ghale’s father, who disappeared after the disaster. As she continues her studies in science in Kathmandu, Ghale represents the generation on the frontlines of climate impact, balancing the personal losses caused by changing environmental conditions with a hope that their pleas for justice will be heard on the global stage.