Nepal’s Prime Minister to Spotlight Climate Crisis at UN General Assembly

Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York, using his first overseas trip since taking office to draw attention to Nepal’s worsening climate risks.

Shah, 36, is currently the world’s youngest national leader and head of government, according to a June 2026 Pew Research Center analysis of leaders from 186 UN member states.

He became prime minister on March 27 and is expected to use one of the world’s most prominent diplomatic platforms to focus on the impact of climate change on vulnerable nations.

Bhotekoshi disaster to shape Nepal’s message

The recent flash floods along the Bhotekoshi river are expected to be central to Shah’s speech. The disaster caused severe damage downstream, affecting lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, hydropower facilities and other economic sectors.

As of September 23, the death toll from the floods had reached 1,452. Search teams were still looking for 4,718 missing people, including several hundred foreign nationals.

Shah is scheduled to speak during the General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon in New York, which falls after midnight early Friday in Nepal. The UN schedule lists his session as beginning at 3pm New York time.

Call for climate support

In his address, Shah is expected to stress the vulnerability of Himalayan communities to climate-driven disasters and the heavy burden facing countries that have contributed little to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Nepal is expected to argue that such countries should not be left to absorb the human and financial costs of a crisis they did little to cause. Shah is also expected to seek stronger international support for disaster preparedness, climate resilience, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

His speech is likely to call for easier access to climate finance, technology and capacity-building assistance, along with an effective loss-and-damage mechanism that helps vulnerable countries without increasing their debt.

The Bhotekoshi floods, which struck communities in Rasuwa and downstream areas, have intensified Nepal’s push for climate diplomacy at this year’s General Assembly. Nepal has requested international assistance for recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Shah is also expected to highlight the specific risks faced by mountain nations, including rising temperatures, melting glaciers, shifting rainfall patterns and growing threats to people, infrastructure and livelihoods.

Meetings in New York

Shah arrived in New York on Wednesday as head of Nepal’s delegation to the General Assembly. He is also due to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres during the visit.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has been attending high-level meetings, side events and bilateral engagements in New York since September 20.

This year’s General Assembly theme is “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All.” The General Debate runs from September 22 to 26 and resumes on September 28.

Shah’s UN appearance comes almost six months after he took office and marks his first foreign visit as prime minister. His delegation includes Foreign Minister Khanal, Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other senior officials.

The prime minister is expected to return to Nepal on September 26.