Nepal PM Proposes Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism With India, China

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has proposed creating a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India and China to address growing climate-related risks in the Himalayan region.

Speaking at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Shah highlighted the importance of the Hindu Kush Himalaya and the impact of recent flash floods that caused widespread destruction across the region.

In his first address to the UN General Assembly, Shah said the Hindu Kush Himalaya is home to nearly two billion people and plays a crucial role in providing water, ecosystems, agricultural resources and livelihoods to populations across a large part of Asia.

He stressed that the Himalayas should not be viewed as a peripheral region but as an important part of the planet's life-support system.

Against this backdrop, Shah proposed that Nepal, India and China jointly lead a new mechanism focused on strengthening climate resilience in the Himalayan region.

The proposal comes as countries in the region face increasing concerns over extreme weather events, including flash floods and other climate-related disasters. Such events can affect communities, infrastructure, agriculture and water resources across national borders.

Shah's proposal seeks greater regional cooperation on these shared challenges. A mechanism involving the three Himalayan countries could potentially focus on cooperation in areas such as disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, water resources and environmental protection.

The Nepalese Prime Minister made the proposal while addressing the international community at the UN, emphasising the wider importance of the Himalayan ecosystem.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya stretches across several countries and supports a vast population through its rivers, ecosystems and natural resources. Changes in the region can therefore have consequences far beyond the mountains themselves.

Shah said establishing the proposed mechanism should be considered an urgent first step towards addressing the region's climate vulnerabilities.

The proposal now puts greater attention on the possibility of Nepal, India and China working together on Himalayan climate resilience, particularly as extreme weather events continue to pose challenges for communities across the region.