GNN, New York — Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal held a meeting with Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Radovan, on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The discussions focused on Nepal-Germany cooperation, development partnership and the growing impact of climate change and climate-induced disasters on Nepal.

During the meeting, Nepal highlighted the need for stronger international attention to the vulnerabilities of Himalayan countries facing increasingly severe climate-related disasters. Nepal is expected to use the UNGA platform to present its concerns over the disproportionate impact of climate change on countries that contribute relatively little to global greenhouse-gas emissions.

The recent Bhotekoshi flood, which caused extensive loss of life and damage to infrastructure, has further underscored Nepal’s vulnerability to climate-induced disasters. The disaster affected communities and critical infrastructure in several Himalayan and river-basin areas, reinforcing concerns over floods, landslides, glacial hazards and other extreme weather events linked to a changing climate.

Nepal is also expected to call for greater international cooperation in disaster preparedness, early-warning systems, climate adaptation, technology transfer and access to climate finance. Alongside immediate relief and rescue efforts, the country faces the challenge of long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged roads, bridges, hydropower infrastructure, settlements and other public facilities.

At the UNGA, Nepal is set to put forward a strong case for climate justice, arguing that vulnerable developing and mountain countries should receive greater international support to address the consequences of a crisis to which they have contributed comparatively little. The Bhotekoshi disaster is expected to feature prominently in Nepal’s diplomatic messaging as an example of the urgent need for stronger global action on climate change, disaster risk reduction and resilient development.