Nepal PM Proposes Climate Resilience Plan with India and China
Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has proposed the creation of a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism led by Nepal, India and China. He made the proposal during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2026, calling for stronger regional cooperation to deal with growing climate-related risks in the Himalayan region.
Shah warned that rising temperatures are making the fragile Himalayan environment increasingly unstable. He said melting glaciers, thawing permafrost and unstable mountain slopes are increasing the risks of ice-rock avalanches, flash floods and landslides.
The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the Hindu Kush Himalaya, which supports nearly two billion people through water resources, agriculture, ecosystems and livelihoods. He said the Himalayas should not be viewed only as a regional issue because changes in the mountain environment can affect communities far beyond Nepal.
Under the proposed mechanism, Nepal, India and China would share satellite data and scientific expertise. The three countries could also work together to monitor dangerous glacial lakes, improve joint early-warning systems and coordinate assistance when disasters occur.
Shah said stronger cooperation could help countries respond more quickly to disasters and reduce the impact of hazards such as floods, landslides and avalanches. He called for the Himalayas to become a platform for international cooperation rather than an area where information remains divided between countries.
His proposal comes after the devastating flash flood that struck the Nepal-China border region on August 26. The disaster followed a high-altitude collapse involving rock and glacier ice and caused severe destruction along the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli river system. Areas in Nepal and Tibet were badly affected, while downstream regions also faced flood risks.
Shah said the disaster has created a major recovery and reconstruction challenge for Nepal. Recent reports citing the Prime Minister’s remarks said more than 1,400 people had been confirmed dead and thousands remained missing, while initial assessments put recovery needs at around 10 percent of Nepal’s GDP.
Shah thanked India, China and other international partners for providing assistance after the disaster. He also called for greater grant-based international support for countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change, arguing that existing climate-financing arrangements are not sufficient for the scale of the challenges facing countries like Nepal.
The Nepalese Prime Minister also stressed that countries with smaller economies can face serious consequences from climate change despite making relatively small contributions to global greenhouse-gas emissions. He called for greater international cooperation, preparedness and investment in climate resilience.
Shah’s proposal places regional cooperation at the centre of Nepal’s response to Himalayan climate risks. Sharing information, improving early-warning systems and coordinating disaster assistance among Nepal, India and China could form key parts of the proposed mechanism if the three countries move forward with the initiative.