'Let the Himalayas become a laboratory': Nepal PM pitches climate cooperation with India, China

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has proposed setting up a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China, following the devastating flash floods that recently struck the region.

In his maiden address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Shah warned that rising temperatures are putting the fragile Himalayan ecosystem under increasing pressure.

'Himalayas are part of planet’s life-support system'

Shah highlighted the importance of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, which supports nearly two billion people through its water resources, ecosystems, agriculture and livelihoods.

“The Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to nearly two billion people. These mountains provide water, ecosystems, agriculture and livelihoods to populations far beyond Nepal. The Himalayas are not peripheral to the planet. They are part of the planet's life-support system,” Shah said.

He proposed that Nepal, India and China work together through a dedicated mechanism to address climate-related risks.

“That is why, as an urgent first step, we propose that we establish a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, led by Nepal, India and China,” Shah said.

Satellite data, early warnings to be shared

Shah said the proposed mechanism could help the three countries share satellite data and technical expertise, while also improving monitoring of glacial lakes and strengthening early-warning systems.

“Let us monitor dangerous glacial lakes. Let us strengthen joint early-warning systems. And when disaster strikes, let us coordinate assistance across borders. Let the Himalayas become a laboratory of international cooperation, rather than a frontier of fragmented information,” he said.

He also pointed to the growing dangers from melting permafrost and unstable mountain slopes.

“Melting permafrost is fracturing mountain slopes beneath the glaciers and accelerating the risks of ice-rock avalanches, floods, landslides and other cascading hazards. The resulting devastation unleashed havoc on both sides of the Nepal-China border. The flood continued downstream towards India,” he said.

Nepal counts cost of devastating floods

Shah said the recent disaster showed that climate-related threats cannot be contained by national borders.

“Climate change does not recognise borders. Glaciers and floods do not travel with a visa stamped on passports.”

The flash floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, devastated parts of northern and central Nepal. The death toll has reached 1,452, while between 4,700 and 6,000 people remain missing, according to the figures cited in his address.

Shah said Nepal now faces a major recovery and reconstruction effort, with initial assessments putting physical recovery needs at around 10 per cent of GDP.

Shah flags food and supply chain concerns

The Nepalese prime minister also criticised global supply chains, contrasting the movement of military equipment with difficulties faced by farmers in obtaining essentials.

“We have built a world with flawless logistics for war and broken logistics for food.”

He said countries across South Asia were facing similar challenges from climate disasters and conflicts.

“And this is not Nepal's private misfortune. Ask Bangladesh. Ask Bhutan. Ask India. Ask the Maldives. Ask Pakistan. Ask Sri Lanka. Ask any other country in our region and you will hear the same account: hit by the climate we did not warm, and hit again by the wars we did not start. This tells us there is a lot more broken than meets the eye in the present order of global cooperation," he said.