Nepal’s catastrophic floods were ‘warning to the world,’ PM Shah tells UN

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Financial Intelligence • Markets • World News • Independent Analysis
Published: 2026-09-25 • Permanent link

Floodwaters swirled through the streets of Kathmandu, submerging homes and businesses, as Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah addressed the United Nations General Assembly. The devastating floods, which affected over 2 million people, were the worst in the country's history, with estimated damages of over $1 billion. Shah's warning to the world came as the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, looked on, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action.

Rising sea levels and melting glaciers pose a significant threat to global economies, with the World Bank estimating that climate change could displace up to 143 million people by 2050. The Nepalese floods are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of inaction, with investors and policymakers under pressure to reassess their climate risk strategies. As the global economy grapples with the implications of climate change, Shah's warning serves as a stark reminder of the need for collective action.

Since the 1950s, the Himalayas have been experiencing rapid glacier melting, with some studies suggesting that the region's glaciers could disappear entirely by 2100. This phenomenon is linked to rising global temperatures, which are causing permafrost to thaw and sea levels to rise. Climate experts warn that the Himalayas are particularly vulnerable to climate change, with the region's unique geography making it prone to extreme weather events.

As the world struggles to come to terms with the scale of the climate crisis, Shah's call to action will be closely watched. The Nepalese government has pledged to invest $1.4 billion in climate resilience projects, but experts warn that more needs to be done to address the root causes of climate change. With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) set to take place in Egypt later this year, Shah's warning serves as a timely reminder of the need for urgent climate action.