Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged the international community to strengthen climate adaptation support after devastating floods and landslides struck the country last month.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly during its high-level week, Shah described the disaster as a warning about the growing risks posed by climate change.

He said rising temperatures were destabilising the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, accelerating glacier and permafrost melt and increasing the risk of natural disasters.

“Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. We did not create this crisis, yet we are paying for it,” Shah said.

Nepal Seeks Greater Climate Support

The disaster became one of the worst catastrophes in Nepal’s recent history.

A high-altitude glacial collapse near the Nepal-China border triggered severe flooding and mudslides, causing widespread destruction.

More than 1,400 people have died, while thousands remain missing, according to reports cited by international media.

The disaster has also caused billions of dollars in economic damage.

Scientists have described the event as a compound crisis in which geological instability combined with long-term climate change effects, including glacier retreat and permafrost thaw.

Shah said Nepal needed international support to strengthen its resilience against increasingly severe climate-related hazards.

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“Nepal cannot build resilience alone against a crisis made worse by the failure of global governance,” he said.

Nepal Proposes Himalayan Climate Mechanism

The Nepalese prime minister proposed establishing a Himalaya Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China.

The proposed mechanism would promote regional cooperation on climate-related risks.

It would allow participating countries to share satellite data and technical expertise.

The proposal would also support monitoring of glacial lakes and the development of stronger joint early warning systems.

Shah said greater regional coordination could help countries prepare for disasters before they develop into major humanitarian crises.

The proposal comes as Himalayan countries face increasing risks from melting glaciers, unstable mountain slopes and glacial lake outburst floods.

Nepal Seeks $20 Million From Loss and Damage Fund

Nepal has requested $20 million from the United Nations-backed Loss and Damage Fund to support recovery efforts.

The amount represents the maximum assistance Nepal can currently seek through the mechanism.

However, the requested funding remains a small portion of the estimated cost of the disaster.

A preliminary government assessment has placed the total economic damage at around $5 billion.

The Loss and Damage Fund was established to help vulnerable developing countries address the impacts of climate change that cannot be avoided through adaptation.

Its ability to respond to major disasters remains under scrutiny as countries seek faster access to climate finance.

US Announces Additional Flood Support

International assistance has begun to increase following the disaster.

The United States announced an additional $31 million in flood recovery support earlier this week.

Nepalese Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal also said the G7 had informally discussed support for Nepal during a meeting on Wednesday.

Britain has separately pledged assistance.

The international response has increased attention on the gap between the scale of climate-related disasters and the financial resources available to vulnerable countries.

Climate Diplomacy Gains Focus Under Shah

The disaster has pushed climate diplomacy to the centre of Shah’s administration.

The 36-year-old former rapper entered office six months ago following youth-led protests focused on corruption and political reform.

The floods have since shifted attention towards disaster recovery, climate adaptation and international climate finance.

Shah used his UN address to call for greater international responsibility towards countries facing severe climate impacts despite contributing relatively little to global emissions.

He said stronger international cooperation was essential to protect vulnerable populations and strengthen resilience across the Himalayan region.

The Nepalese government is now seeking international support for reconstruction while also advocating regional mechanisms to improve early warning systems and climate preparedness.