Kathmandu, 25 September (H.S.): Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said Nepal would not turn the disaster into a subject of geopolitical blame and counter-blame. He made the remarks while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly. His address emphasised climate responsibility, international cooperation and the need for greater support for vulnerable countries.

Prime Minister Shah said more than 1,400 people had lost their lives in Nepal as a result of the disaster. He said, “Nepal is not here to blame any country or turn climate change into another geopolitical battlefield. But Nepal wants everyone to recommit to their responsibilities and solidarity.”

He said the Himalayan region should not become an area of tension, but rather a shared laboratory for preventing potential damage. Shah also emphasised the need to share geospatial information, satellite data and expertise across the Himalayan region.

Shah linked the disaster to the broader effects of climate change, noting that Nepal contributes less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse-gas emissions while facing severe consequences, including retreating glaciers, unstable mountain slopes and increasingly unpredictable rivers.

He stressed that climate change does not recognise national borders and called for stronger regional cooperation, including joint monitoring of hazardous glacial lakes, improved early-warning systems and coordinated assistance across borders.

Shah also proposed the establishment of a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China to strengthen regional preparedness and cooperation in responding to climate-related disasters.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar