- PM Balendra Shah urged the UN for faster, grant-based climate finance to help vulnerable nations like Nepal rebuild without incurring additional debt.
- He proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism with India and China to share satellite data and coordinate regional disaster responses.
- Shah criticized global logistics for moving military equipment more efficiently than essential food and fuel supplies to developing countries.
- The Prime Minister called for simplified access to climate funds, arguing that disaster recovery should not require complex bureaucratic procedures.
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called for changes in the way the international community responds to climate change, saying vulnerable countries need faster access to finance, better disaster preparedness and stronger regional cooperation.
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Shah said countries such as Nepal were facing serious climate risks despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions.
He also raised concerns about global supply systems, saying the world can move military equipment across borders quickly but often struggles to deliver basic goods such as fertilizer and fuel to farmers.
“We have built a world with flawless logistics for war and broken logistics for food,” Shah said.
Shah said the same international systems that allow weapons and other military supplies to reach distant countries within days should also be able to ensure that farmers can obtain essential agricultural inputs on time.
He said people in developing countries should not have to face additional difficulties because of weaknesses in international supply and financial systems.
Nepal calls for Himalayan climate mechanism
A key proposal in Shah’s address was the creation of a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China.
Shah said the Himalayan region supports the lives and livelihoods of nearly two billion people and faces growing risks from rising temperatures, melting glaciers, floods and other climate-related disasters.
He proposed that the three countries work together to share satellite information, monitor dangerous glacial lakes and improve early-warning systems.
He also called for better coordination when disasters cross national borders.
Shah said the Himalayan region should be an area where countries share information and work together on climate risks rather than dealing with the same problems separately.
The proposal would require agreement among Nepal, India and China on data sharing, monitoring systems, funding and emergency response. Shah did not provide details on how the proposed mechanism would be financed or managed.
Nepal seeks more climate grants
Shah also called for more grant-based support for countries affected by climate disasters.
He said countries that suffer major damage should not be expected to take on more debt to rebuild roads, bridges, homes and other infrastructure.
“When climate disasters destroy the infrastructure of poor countries, the solution cannot simply be another large loan or a patchwork of small grants. We need adequate grant-based support from the world,” he said.
Shah said existing international climate-finance arrangements, including the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Environment Facility, are not enough to meet the needs of vulnerable countries.
He also criticized lengthy procedures for accessing climate funds.
“When a house is on fire, we do not ask the family to fill out 50 forms. We take action. That is what climate justice should truly mean,” he said.
His comments reflect a long-running concern among developing countries that climate funds can be difficult to access and may not reach affected communities quickly enough after disasters.
Climate change is adding pressure on Nepal
Shah said Nepal is already dealing with the effects of a changing climate.
He pointed to melting glaciers, unstable mountain slopes, floods and other hazards that threaten communities and infrastructure.
He said recent disasters had shown that climate risks can affect more than one country at a time. Floods and other events in the Himalayan region can have consequences across borders, making cooperation between neighboring countries important.
Shah said Nepal needs international support not only to recover from disasters but also to prepare for future risks.
He called for greater investment in early-warning systems, stronger infrastructure and climate adaptation at the local level.
Shah highlights Nepal's environmental efforts
Shah also presented Nepal's efforts to reduce emissions and protect its environment.
He said about half of Nepal's land area is covered by forests and highlighted the country's growing hydropower sector.
He also pointed to the increasing use of electric vehicles and said Nepal would continue expanding clean-energy use and local climate-adaptation measures.
Nepal's contribution to global emissions is small, but Shah said the country faces serious consequences from climate change.
He argued that international climate policies should take into account both countries' contributions to global emissions and the risks they face.
Food and energy supply
Shah linked climate concerns with problems in global supply chains.
He said Nepali farmers have at times struggled to obtain fertilizer when they need it and that people and businesses can also face problems obtaining fuel at reasonable market prices.
He questioned why essential goods cannot be moved as efficiently as military supplies.
His argument was that international trade and supply systems should also give greater attention to food, energy and other basic needs.
The issue is particularly important for countries such as Nepal, which depend on imports for many essential goods and can be affected by disruptions outside their borders.
From disaster recovery to preparedness
Shah said Nepal needs to move beyond rebuilding after every disaster and invest more in reducing future risks.
He said recovery should include stronger infrastructure, better warning systems and greater support for communities exposed to climate hazards.
“The people of our country must be allowed to build their future instead of constantly rebuilding their past,” he said.
He also called for international support based on the principle that countries with greater capacity and a larger contribution to climate change should play a greater role in addressing its effects.
Nepal's message at the UN
Shah's address brought together three main issues: climate finance, regional cooperation and the problems faced by developing countries in accessing essential goods and resources.
His proposal for a Himalayan climate mechanism is aimed at improving cooperation among Nepal, India and China, while his call for more grants seeks to reduce the financial burden on countries recovering from climate disasters.
The next challenge will be turning these proposals into practical arrangements. A regional mechanism would require agreement among the three countries, while faster access to climate finance would depend on changes within existing international funding systems.
Shah ended his address with a message of peace, referring to Nepal's spiritual traditions.
“May Lord Pashupatinath bless the world. May this world be able to follow the path shown by Buddha. Thank you, Namaste,” he said.
