Will the Mechanism Proposed by Balen Be Acceptable to China?

In order to protect future generations from the atrocities of war, the United Nations was founded right after World War II. Yet, between 1945 and 2025, the world has witnessed dozens of regional insurgencies, large-scale interstate conflicts, and devastating civil wars—ranging from the Korean War (1950) and the eight-year Iran-Iraq War (1980s) to the conflict in Afghanistan (2001–2021), where Cold War-era powers engaged in both direct and indirect warfare.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which originated in 2014, escalated into a full-scale war in 2022, impacting the entire globe. Meanwhile, the repercussions of the Gaza War, which began in 2023, have now spread across the entire Middle East. Amid the active maneuvering of traditional Cold War powers and the internal rivalries among emerging nations, critical issues like climate change often appear to be relegated to the background. Although the United Nations’ structures have proven ineffective in preventing the world from descending into conflict and war, the organization’s role in relief and rescue operations remains commendable.

Perhaps due to the UN’s waning influence, there was speculation prior to the “Rasuwa Flood” (or “Himalayan Tsunami”) that Prime Minister Balendra Shah might not attend the 81st UN General Assembly. However, the Rasuwa Flood significantly altered the country’s perception of the climate change issue, much like the “sea change” the “Gen-Z movement” brought to Nepali politics. The Rasuwa floods—which highlight the possibility that the very existence of a country like Nepal, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, could be imperiled—must have been the driving force behind Prime Minister Balen’s address at the UNGA.

Later that same year, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Beijing, and a memorandum of understanding on “strengthening cooperation on trans-border rivers” was signed; this agreement outlined the specifics of hydrological data sharing.

Among the powerful nations participating in the UNGA, the thirst for physical development remains unquenched. The race for development is matched by a race in carbon emissions. Perhaps for this very reason, Prime Minister Balen clearly articulated several important proposals, stating, “We have not come here to cast blame on any country or continent. Nor have we come to turn climate change into another geopolitical battlefield. We have come to urge everyone to recommit to shared responsibility and solidarity.”

Data released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 2024 shows that the United States ranks higher than China and India in per capita greenhouse gas emissions. According to the 2024 IEA data, per capita carbon emissions for the US, China, the EU, the UK, and India stand at 18, 11, 8.1, 6.3, and 2.6 tonnes, respectively. Major developed economies—including the United States, the European Union, the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan—have set a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. China has pledged to reach net-zero by 2060, while India has committed to doing so by 2070.