Balen Shah

Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen,

I come before you from Nepal - a distant country in the Himalayas - carrying a close warning for humanity. I wish I could stand here today simply to speak about development, democracy, peace and the hopes of a young nation. Instead, I must speak about death and destruction of epic proportions.

About families waiting for loved ones who will never come home. About communities searching through mud, rocks and water for people whose bodies may never be recovered. About bridges, roads, schools, homes and livelihoods swept away in minutes. And about a country whose steady progress to achieve Sustainable Development Goals has been interrupted. Four weeks ago, the world saw the shocking images of the catastrophic flash floods that swept through Nepal’s mountain communities with ferocity many have called a “Himalayan Tsunami.”

The Bhotekoshi-Trishuli disaster was not just a local tragedy, it was a warning to the world. And I ask you today: have we really heard that warning? Nearly three years ago, standing in the shadow of our Mount Everest, the Secretary-General of the United Nations warned humanity about the madness of an impending climate disaster.

That cry from the rooftop of the world was not heard loudly enough. We in Nepal heard it. Our communities heard it. Scientists around the world heard it. They repeated it with evidence. But we, the political leaders of the world, have been negligent to translate those warnings into action at the speed and scale that vulnerable people require.

Last month, we saw the tragic consequences. A warming climate is destabilizing the fragile Himalayan ecology. Melting permafrost are fracturing mountain slopes beneath the glaciers and accelerating the risks of ice-rock avalanche, floods, landslides and other cascading hazards. The resulting devastation unleashed havoc on both sides of the Nepal-China border. The flood continued downstream towards India.

This tells us something fundamental: Climate change does not recognize borders. Glaciers and floods do not travel with a visa stamped on passports.

Excellencies, I am not here to complain but to share some suggestions. First, I wish to express Nepal's deep gratitude to all those who came to our aid in the aftermath of the deluge. Our immediate neighbors, India and China, offered prompt and generous assistance.

Other friendly countries, the United Nations system, humanitarian agencies, philanthropies and people around the world stood with Nepal. To all of them, I say: thank you on behalf of the grateful people of Nepal.