Prime Minister Balen Shah has said that Nepal wants everyone to fulfill their responsibilities regarding climate change. Addressing the 81st General Assembly of the United Nations, he said that disasters would not be made a subject of geopolitical blame.
Referring to the context of more than 1400 lives lost due to disasters in Nepal, he said that the Himalayan region should not be a region of tension but a common laboratory to prevent the damage it can cause. He said that satellite information and expertise should be shared in the Himalayan region.
During the address, he said that although Nepal contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is paying a heavy price for the climate crisis. He stated that melting glaciers, unstable mountain slopes, and unpredictable river flows have put development achievements at risk.
Prime Minister Shah also raised questions about the global economic and supply system. Mentioning that in Nepal, fertilizer for farmers, bitumen for road construction, and cooking fuel for families cannot be made available on time, he presented the situation where war materials reach quickly around the world but essential materials for farmers do not reach easily as an example of an unbalanced world order.
He said that Nepal is committed to multilateralism, emphasizing that the voices of small and developing countries should be effectively heard in international decision-making processes. He stated that climate justice is not limited to economic cooperation but is also related to who bears the cost of damage and whose voice is heard in the decision-making process.
Prime Minister Shah mentioned that Nepal’s new generation is demanding politics of honesty and accountability, and that his government’s priority is to build a state that provides employment, social security, and opportunities for Nepalis within the country. He also expressed the view that more emphasis should be placed on preparedness rather than immediate response to disasters like floods and landslides.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shah had met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep sympathy for the loss of life and property in the Bhote Koshi disaster and said that the United Nations stands in solidarity with Nepal on climate issues.
The Prime Minister’s Secretariat stated that he also praised the young Nepali delegation.
