Nepal's Floods Signal Rising Climate Risks in the Himalayas
WHO:
ABC News - Tenzin Dolma Ghale, a survivor of Nepal's floods, stated she lost everything except the clothes she was wearing.
ABC News - Harjeet Singh, founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, emphasized the need for trillions of dollars annually for climate adaptation.
ABC News - Neha Rai, a climate finance expert at ICIMOD, discussed the long-term impacts of funding cuts on climate programs.
ABC News - Richard Sherman, a board member of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, commented on the funding issues for disaster recovery.
WHAT:
ABC News - Over 1,450 people were killed and more than 6,000 were reported missing due to the recent floods in Nepal.
ABC News - The SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya program, which provided disaster risk reduction services, was shut down due to funding cuts.
ABC News - Himalayan glaciers are losing mass 65% faster than a decade ago, according to a report by Systemiq.
ABC News - In northern Pakistan, there are 3,044 glacial lakes, with over 30 identified as likely to cause glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
ABC News - The 2022 Pakistan floods resulted in over 1,700 deaths and caused an estimated $40 billion in damage.
ABC News - Flooding in Nepal in 2025 killed nine people and caused millions of dollars in damage.
ABC News - The Himalayan region suffered economic losses of at least $7 billion in 2025 due to climate-driven extreme weather.
WHERE:
ABC News - The floods occurred in Nepal, affecting various villages and communities.
ABC News - The SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya program covered Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
ABC News - The Himalayan region is vital for nearly 2 billion people living in or downstream of the area.
WHEN:
ABC News - The SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya program ended in January 2025.
ABC News - The funding cuts to climate programs occurred in 2025.
WHY:
ABC News - The cuts to international climate adaptation and disaster preparedness aid programs are attributed to reductions in funding from developed countries.
ABC News - The need for funding is exacerbated by the relationship between the climate crisis and the debt crisis, as countries take loans to recover from climate impacts.
HOW:
ABC News - The SERVIR-HKH program utilized satellites and geospatial analysis for disaster risk reduction and provided flood risk services.
ABC News - The U.S. State Department supports Nepal’s flood warning capacity through programs with the World Meteorological Organization and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(UPDATED September 23, 2026 19:02 UTC)
The recent floods in Nepal have had devastating effects, with over 1,450 people reported dead and more than 6,000 missing, as survivors like Tenzin Dolma Ghale share heartbreaking stories of losing everything but the clothes on their backs. Experts emphasize the urgent need for trillions of dollars annually for climate adaptation, highlighting that funding cuts have led to the shutdown of crucial programs like SERVIR-Hindu Kush Himalaya, which provided vital disaster risk reduction services across the region. With Himalayan glaciers melting 65% faster than a decade ago and the economic losses from climate-driven extreme weather hitting at least $7 billion in 2025, the relationship between the climate crisis and funding challenges is becoming increasingly critical.