What happened

Nepal has asked the United Nations loss and damage fund for US$20 million following devastating floods and landslides that affected Nepal and Chinese-controlled Tibet in late August, according to İklim Haber.

The disaster followed the partial collapse of a melting glacier and caused a landslide and flash flooding. More than 1,300 deaths had been verified, while more than 5,500 people were still unaccounted for. Prospects of finding survivors had diminished after 12 days of search and rescue operations.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said Nepal’s finance and environment ministries had jointly written to the fund. He said the country’s contribution to global greenhouse-gas emissions is below 0.1%, and called on larger economies to share responsibility for climate-related losses.

Estimates put the overall damage from the flooding above US$5 billion. More than 20,000 homes may need rebuilding, alongside a main highway. Some riverside settlements may also have to be moved to safer, higher ground.

Why it matters

The request illustrates the gap between climate vulnerability and the finance available for recovery. Nepal has turned to the UN mechanism created under the Paris Agreement in 2022 to address climate-related loss and damage.

No specific obligations for Turkish or EU businesses are set out in the report. However, the case adds to pressure on major economies and international finance mechanisms to provide funding for countries facing severe climate impacts despite low emissions.

Background

The Himalayas, spanning India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, are warming at roughly 50% above the global average, the report said. The UN reported in 2023 that Nepal’s mountain ice had lost about one-third of its volume over a little more than 30 years because of global warming.

The UN loss and damage fund faces a large funding shortfall. It has received requests worth about US$2.8 billion from around 119 countries, while international contributions total roughly US$400 million.

What's next

Nepal is awaiting a response to its US$20 million request. Khanal said the amount would not cover the country’s losses and identified China and India among the countries that should provide early support.