Three weeks after the collapse of a glacier and rock mass from the Langtang Lirung mountain triggered devastating floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli valleys, officials have confirmed the loss of more than 1,380 lives, with around 5,100 individuals reported missing. The disaster has destroyed thousands of homes and critical infrastructure. The Nepal government’s rapid assessment estimates that full recovery and long-term reconstruction will require $4.7 billion, approximately 10 percent of the country’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) and more than a third of its federal budget.
Despite significant media coverage and public attention, the international political response has been limited. Some foreign governments have issued condolence messages and provided emergency supplies, with the United States pledging $3.6 million, the United Kingdom $6 million, and the European Union $2.3 million. However, these funds are insufficient to meet the needs of affected communities, particularly as winter approaches.
Nepal is framing the floods not just as a weather-related disaster but as a consequence of a climate crisis for which it has contributed minimally. This perspective highlights the inequality inherent in the climate crisis, where wealthy nations have historically consumed a disproportionate share of the atmosphere's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, benefiting from industrialization driven by fossil fuels, while countries like Nepal have had limited opportunities to utilize similar resources.
Nepal argues that international support for climate-related disasters should not be viewed as charity but as a matter of climate justice. The country has requested urgent support from the United Nations’ Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which is currently considering its response. This situation revisits the commitments made in the Paris Agreement, which recognized “loss and damage” but limited the scope for liability or compensation.
The legal landscape is complex, as the International Court of Justice ruled in 2025 that countries have a legal obligation to protect the climate system and may be liable for reparations if they fail to meet these obligations. This ruling has brought renewed focus on state responsibility regarding climate change.
As climate losses increase, official development assistance has decreased, falling by 23.1 percent in 2025, the largest annual contraction on record. This decline in support occurs at a time when the need for assistance is growing.
The global economy has long transferred wealth and resources through unequal ties between the Global North and Global South. Climate finance alone cannot rectify this imbalance if it merely returns a portion of that wealth as loans or private investments. Countries should not have to borrow to recover from climate disasters they did not significantly contribute to.
Moreover, wealthy nations must reduce their emissions and consumption of resources rather than relying solely on compensation. The muted response to the floods in Nepal raises broader questions about international cooperation and accountability in addressing climate change.
The conversation around climate justice must include reparations for the damage caused by unequal resource appropriation. This dialogue cannot be delayed any longer.