NEW YORK — Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah told the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2026 that the world’s climate‑action framework was broken, citing the devastating floods that swept the Himalayan foothills earlier this year. He urged the United Nations, India and China to launch a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism to coordinate adaptation, mitigation and disaster‑risk reduction in the region.
Floods Highlight Urgency
In the weeks before the UNGA, heavy monsoon rains triggered flash floods in the western and central districts of Nepal, killing more than 200 people and displacing over 30,000 households. The government’s emergency response was hampered by limited resources and a lack of coordinated regional support, according to the Nepali Ministry of Disaster Management. Shah’s remarks were framed against this backdrop of escalating climate‑related disasters that have become increasingly frequent in the Himalayas.
Call for a Regional Mechanism
During his address, Shah proposed a trilateral “Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism” that would bring together Nepal, India and China. The mechanism would aim to share early‑warning systems, mobilise climate finance, and coordinate infrastructure projects that reduce flood risk. He said the initiative would also create a platform for joint research on glacial melt and water‑security challenges that affect millions of people downstream.
Global Order Broken, He Added
Shah criticised the current international climate‑policy architecture for failing to deliver on commitments made under the Paris Agreement. He said the “global order is broken” in the sense that developed nations have not met their financial pledges, and that the climate‑justice agenda has been sidelined by geopolitical rivalries. The Prime Minister called for a renewed commitment to the 1.5‑degree target and urged the UN to facilitate a binding framework for the Himalayan region.
Reactions from India and China
India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Piyush Goyal, responded to Shah’s proposal in a statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The statement said India would support the mechanism “in line with its commitments to the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.”
China’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Wang Yi, issued a brief comment through the Chinese Embassy in New York. He said China would consider the proposal and that Beijing had already been working on a “Himalayan climate cooperation” framework with Nepal and India for several years.
UNGA Context
The speech took place during the 81st session of the UNGA, where member states reviewed progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Secretary‑General, António Guterres, had earlier highlighted the need for “regional cooperation” to address climate‑related disasters. Shah’s call for a dedicated mechanism was seen as a follow‑up to Guterres’s remarks.
Implications for Climate Finance
Shah’s proposal comes as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have announced a new $5 billion fund for Himalayan climate adaptation. The mechanism would aim to channel a portion of that funding to Nepal’s most vulnerable districts. The Prime Minister said the mechanism would also facilitate the transfer of technology and expertise from India and China to Nepal’s local authorities.
Next Steps
According to the Nepali government’s press release, a working group will be formed within the next month to draft the mechanism’s framework. The group will include representatives from the ministries of environment, water resources and disaster management from all three countries. The draft will be presented at the next UN climate conference in 2027.
