Nepal should go to the UN to demand fairness, not sympathy

The devastating flood in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system on August 26 was beyond just another natural disaster. Within hours, settlements, roads, bridges, hydropower projects, and other infrastructure were damaged or swept away. Many people lost their lives, while thousands were displaced and exposed to serious risks.

This tragedy is a stark reminder that climate change is no longer a future concern for Nepal. It is already affecting the country’s economy, environment, and development prospects. More importantly, it raises a fundamental question of fairness: why should a country that contributes only about 0.027 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions bear such a heavy burden of climate impacts?