Nepal’s prime minister delivered a somber address to the UN General Assembly, telling world leaders he came not to speak of development and peace, but of “death and destruction of epic proportions” following catastrophic floods that tore through the country’s mountain communities last month.
Describing the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli disaster as a “Himalayan Tsunami,” the prime minister said families are still searching through mud and rubble for loved ones, with more than 1,400 confirmed dead and over 6,000 people missing. He warned that a UN warning issued from the foot of Mount Everest nearly three years ago had gone unheeded by political leaders worldwide, even as scientists and Nepali communities sounded the alarm.
Noting that Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions yet faces recovery costs equal to roughly 10% of its GDP, the prime minister argued climate justice demands that historic polluters bear greater responsibility. He proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China to share satellite data, monitor glacial lakes and coordinate cross-border disaster response.
The prime minister, described as the youngest head of government to address the Assembly this year, also criticized global supply chains that deliver weapons within hours while leaving farmers without fertilizer, calling for a fairer international economic order and stronger multilateral cooperation.