A devastating glacial collapse in Nepal that unleashed deadly floods was a “warning signal” over the growing risks climate change poses to the Himalayan nation, its foreign minister told AFP on Tuesday.
“We believe that this disaster should be seen as a warning signal to the risk that climate change poses to Nepal,” Shisir Khanal said in an interview with AFP nearly a week since the tsunami-like wave of freezing water , rocks and debris carved a trail of destruction. “We call upon the international community to take the changing climate in the Himalayas in an urgent light,” he said. The disaster has affected people’s lives but also public infrastructure, the minister said, underlining the need for long-term support to help Nepal adapt to and mitigate the growing challenges of climate change. “We have to seek not just the preservation of mountains, but also seek support for adaptation and mitigation of the challenges that climate change is bringing to Nepal — and this region as well,” he said. “It impacts the entirety of Himalayan region’s civilisation,” Mr. Khanal said.
The glacial collapse has highlighted the need to speed up data sharing mechanisms to alert of any similar catastrophes, said the Minister. “Since the disaster, China has shared a lot of data, especially for this region where this particular disaster occurred,” he said.
