Nepal seeks climate compensation, cites 'justice and fairness'

Deadly border floods

The death toll from flash floods and mudslides that struck the Nepal-China border on Aug. 26 has climbed to 1,225 — including 1,204 in Nepal and 21 confirmed by Beijing — while nearly 4,757 victims remain missing. Nepalese authorities said the disaster involved a glacier collapse, and rescue operations are continuing amid challenging monsoon conditions. Khanal warned that melting glaciers and thawing permafrost are elevating the risk of similar catastrophes across the Himalayan range.

Climate justice demands

Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper 360°, Khanal stressed that Nepal suffers disproportionately from climate change despite accounting for a negligible fraction of global emissions. "If you look at data, even our overall carbon footprint, greenhouse emission is less than a 10th of a percentage," he said, adding: "The glaciers are melting. The permafrost are thawing, and there is a risk of glacier flood." He argued that international assistance must be viewed through the lens of accountability rather than generosity, telling Cooper that "Global communities have to come together and this cannot be seen merely as a charitable giving, but has to be part of a compensation process as well."

When asked whether he regarded the disaster as a direct result of climate change, Khanal replied: "Absolutely, you know, there is no question that there is evidence." He pressed the point that "How fair is it for Nepali people and people of Himalayas to bear the burden of the climate change, where we have had very little contribution to it?" Khanal insisted that "Exactly, this should be seen from the perspective of justice and fairness," rejecting the framing of aid as charity.

Regional water security

The foreign minister noted that Himalayan rivers eventually flow into India and Bangladesh, providing fresh water for agriculture and drinking to more than 2 billion people across South Asia. "Saving Himalayas has to be part of a global effort because today it's impacting Nepal but it also impacted China," Khanal said, warning that glacial melt threatens water security far beyond Nepal's borders. The floods destroyed infrastructure and displaced communities along the mountain frontier, with Nepalese officials continuing recovery efforts as the death toll is expected to rise.