GCAP Director Ingo Ritz is among global civil society leaders calling for the UN General Assembly to declare a Global Climate Emergency, arguing that the devastation caused by recent floods in Nepal shows how climate impacts are already threatening lives, livelihoods and vulnerable communities.

In a joint letter addressed to H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, Ritz and representatives of Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD), CIVICUS, Forus and the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network called for urgent and coordinated international action on climate mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and support for affected communities.

Read the letter here

The appeal follows the 26 August 2026 glacial-rock collapse in Nepal’s Himalayan region, which triggered catastrophic flash floods along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers. According to the letter, the disaster killed more than 1,350 people in Nepal, while nearly 5,000 people were reported missing, with additional deaths and displacement reported across the border.

The organisations said the disaster was a stark reminder that the climate emergency is no longer a distant threat but is already causing large-scale loss of life, displacement, destruction of livelihoods and ecosystems, and increasing risks to peace, sustainable development and human rights.

“Climate-vulnerable countries and communities that have contributed least to historical greenhouse gas emissions are paying a high price for a crisis they did not cause,” the letter underlined.

The coalition called on the UN General Assembly to declare a Global Climate Emergency to raise global awareness of escalating climate impacts and mobilise unified, immediate action to scale up mitigation and adaptation efforts, expand access to loss and damage funds and strengthen solidarity with communities most affected by the climate crisis.

The organisations also called for adequate, predictable and accessible financing to help affected communities recover from climate disasters and build resilience.

The letter referred to the recent UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report, Limiting Overshoot – Navigating Exceedance of 1.5°C and Pathways Towards Return, which highlights the need for mitigation and adaptation to proceed together and with equal urgency.

The civil society groups urged the UN system to deploy appropriate assessment and fact-finding mechanisms to better understand the impacts on affected communities, strengthen coordination with national and local actors and ensure international support reflects realities on the ground.

They further stressed that climate responses must be grounded in the experiences and leadership of affected communities, with local civil society organisations playing a critical role in preparedness, emergency response, recovery and resilience-building.

The joint letter was signed by Oli Henman, Global Coordinator, A4SD; Jesselina Rana, UN Advisor, CIVICUS; Sarah Strack, Director, Forus; Ingo Ritz, Director, GCAP; and Elena Marmo, Deputy Director, TAP Network.