Nepal PM to raise climate crisis, disaster losses at UN General Assembly

Prime Minister Shah will travel to New York for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly from September 22-26, marking his first overseas visit since taking office in March. He is scheduled to address the General Debate on September 24, according to Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

During his address, Shah plans to underscore Nepal's vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, citing the recent Bhotekoshi flash floods of August 26 as evidence of the country's mounting climate crisis. The devastating incident resulted in significant loss of life and widespread destruction of property across affected regions.

Foreign Secretary Rai said during a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday that the catastrophic losses from the flash floods demonstrate Nepal's position on "the forefront of the crisis emerging from climate change." The government views the international platform as a critical opportunity to draw global attention to the disproportionate climate impacts faced by vulnerable nations in the region.

Nepal's presentation at UNGA is expected to emphasise the urgent need for enhanced international climate action and support for countries bearing the brunt of climate-related disasters despite their minimal contribution to global emissions.