Nepal demands $20m climate compensation for deadly floods

Nepal is demanding $20 million in climate compensation for devastating floods that killed or left missing more than 6,000 people in late August. The country's foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, told reporters that the world's biggest polluting economies must 'wake up' and accept a shared responsibility for the disaster.

Scientists link the catastrophe to the climate crisis. The floods began when a melting glacier partially collapsed in Chinese-controlled Tibet, triggering a deadly landslide and flash flooding that surged into Nepal. So far, more than 1,300 people are confirmed dead and over 5,500 remain missing after twelve days of search efforts.

A call for climate justice

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal was forthright in his call for climate justice. He stated it was imperative for the world's largest economies to help Nepal recover. Nepal contributes less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while neighbours India and China are among the top emitters. The Himalayas, which span the region, have been warming nearly 50% faster than the global average. A 2023 UN report said Nepal's mountains had lost close to a third of their ice in just over thirty years.

Khanal emphasised this disaster was far more extreme than typical monsoon flooding. He compared its magnitude to the devastating 2015 earthquake. 'This felt like a tsunami that was coming from the Himalayas,' he said. 'We experienced waves as high as 60, 70 feet, which were mixed with debris, mud, stones, rocks, and came at the speed of almost 180km per hour.'

The formal compensation request

Nepal's finance and environment ministries have sent a joint letter to the UN's loss and damage fund, established in 2022 under the Paris Agreement, requesting the $20 million. Khanal admitted the sum is 'obviously not nearly enough' to cover the damage. Some estimates put total losses above $5 billion, a figure the minister said could be even higher.

The disaster requires rebuilding upwards of 20,000 homes and a main highway. Entire villages built along vulnerable riverbanks may need relocation to higher ground. Khanal said the demand also acts as a 'wake-up call for the global community to establish a more strong mechanism' for vulnerable nations.

Challenges with the global fund

The UN loss and damage fund faces a significant financing gap. It has received requests totalling $2.8 billion from about 119 countries but has only secured around $400 million in international pledges. The United States, the world's biggest historical polluter, has contributed just $17 million.

Khanal acknowledged 'political challenges' in securing the compensation. 'Yes there always will be people who may not agree to our perspective or deny there is climate change, but there are also people who deny that the Earth is round,' he stated bluntly. He stressed the need for funds not only for immediate response but for long-term preparedness and risk mitigation.

Regional coordination and future warnings

Khanal rebuffed allegations that China failed to provide adequate warning or data about the impending floods. He said he is in discussions with China to enhance coordination for the Himalayan region. 'With the benefit of hindsight, we can now see that this glacier was fragile and had been receding in the past six months,' Khanal noted. He added that neither Nepali nor Chinese scientists had prior knowledge the collapse was imminent, stating, 'I do not believe any of us had any idea of the threat until it happened.'

The minister warned the global community against viewing this as a one-off event. He called it one of the strongest warning signals of what is to come in a changing climate, predicting a 'recurring scenario' for communities in Nepal and worldwide.