Kathmandu, 3 Sep: Nepal is strengthening its efforts for climate justice on the global stage. Nepal has repeatedly suffered the devastating impacts of glacial lake outbursts and glacial floods. A strong example of Nepal’s pursuit of climate justice is its emergency request for compensation from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to address the damage and losses caused by the Bhote Koshi glacial flood.
Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary said Nepal has demanded that the Bhote Koshi glacial flood disaster be addressed immediately as an issue of climate justice. She argued that although Nepal has made a negligible contribution to global warming and climate change, the country is nevertheless being forced to suffer disasters of this nature.
The Bhote Koshi disaster is not the first incident in Nepal to be closely linked to climate justice. In the past, glacial floods caused by glacial lake outbursts in Solukhumbu, as well as glacial floods in Humla’s Limi and Manang and the devastating glacial flood in Melamchi, have also been regarded as disasters linked to climate justice.
Minister Chaudhary said, “The fund, which can help deliver climate justice to Nepal, must act quickly and effectively in accordance with its procedures and release funds to Nepal.” She emphasized that countries responsible for large-scale carbon emissions should take responsibility and compensate Nepal for the losses. She added, “Nepal cannot continue to bear the consequences of disasters of this kind caused by the mistakes of others.”
First Global Appeal for Climate Justice
In a letter concerning the devastating Bhote Koshi glacial flood, Nepal has claimed that it deserves climate justice. An initial assessment of the damage caused by the flood on Bhadra 10 noted that Nepal, a least-developed and highly climate-vulnerable Himalayan country, has made only a negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions.
Given the extraordinary scale of the disaster caused by the glacial flood, the letter calls for swift and effective decisions to support the Government of Nepal in responding to the crisis. The fund is expected to help with recovery efforts and reduce the suffering of affected citizens.
First Step Toward Climate Justice
The fund, jointly chaired by representatives of Norway on behalf of developed countries and the Dominican Republic on behalf of least-developed countries, is a transitional global mechanism established to deliver climate justice. Last year, Nepali climate expert Dr. Manjit Dhakal played a role as an adviser representing the least-developed countries in the establishment of the fund.
Following the receipt of Nepal’s letter appealing for emergency assistance for climate justice, high-level discussions are currently underway. Dhakal, who is in Timure, said this is the first time in the world that Nepal has formally sought compensation in this manner for climate justice. He said, “As this is the first initiative of its kind, there is interest around the world, including in Nepal, about what decision will be made.”
Climate scientists and experts have conducted factual analyses indicating that the Bhote Koshi glacial flood on the morning of Bhadra 10 occurred after a large mass of the Langtang Lirung mountain collapsed into the Bhote Koshi River, apparently due to rising temperatures in Nepal’s Himalayan region.
