# Tackling climate disasters together, safeguarding our shared future

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/tackling-climate-disasters-together-safeguarding-our-shared-future
- Published: 2026-09-09T15:41:00+07:00
- Author: PR Newswire

BEIJING, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily

On Aug. 26, a devastating mudslide in Nepal caused heavy casualties and left people
missing at the Gyirong port in Gyirong county, Xigaze, southwest China’s Xizang 
autonomous region.

The disaster originated on the Nepali side of a river along the China-Nepal border.
At an altitude of about 5,200 meters on the northern slope of Mount Langtang Lirung,
a glacier broke apart, triggering an ice-rock avalanche. The avalanche swept up 
debris and raced roughly 22 kilometers down the mountain, eventually reaching the
Gyirong port in China at an altitude of about 1,800 meters.

The entire event unfolded in just six to seven minutes, destroying 27 buildings 
and associated facilities across an area of about 0.7 square kilometers. The sudden
natural disaster caused heavy losses of life and property, drawing deep sorrow from
people around the world.

From the perspective of hazard formation, the Gyirong mudslide was a typical cascading
disaster driven by climate change. A glacier calving event triggered a debris flow.
As it raced downhill at high speed, the flow entrained massive volumes of rock and
soil, evolving into a mudslide that rushed into the river valley. The debris dammed
the watercourse, forming a barrier lake. At each link in the chain, the destructive
force increased progressively.

This disaster stands out for its transboundary hazard sources, marked by abrupt 
onset, high concealment, and an extremely narrow early warning window. Accelerated
glacier melting caused by global warming, combined with complex geological and geomorphic
conditions, were key triggers. Persistent anomalies in the climate system are producing
far‑reaching cascading impacts, and global climate risks are rapidly materializing
into real‑world catastrophes.

In recent years, climate-related disasters have become increasingly frequent around
the world. In 2021, an ice-rock avalanche and debris flow in a mountainous region
of India left more than 200 people dead or missing. In 2022, prolonged monsoon rains
in Pakistan triggered widespread flash floods and landslides. In 2023, Canada experienced
a severe wildfire season that lasted more than five months, burning a cumulative
area of about 173,000 square kilometers. In 2026, record-breaking heatwaves occurred
with increasing frequency in many parts of the world.

Climate disasters have long transcended national borders and become a systemic risk
that confronts all of humanity. According to the United Nations Global Assessment
Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, various disasters cause direct losses of
about $202 billion worldwide each year. When broader economic impacts are taken 
into account, the estimated losses rise as high as $2.3 trillion.

No country can insulate itself from extreme weather events, catastrophic disasters,
or transboundary disasters. Joint action on climate change is vital to the survival
and well-being of humanity, making international cooperation an urgent necessity.
Yet international mechanisms and capacities for disaster risk reduction still lag
far behind the growing frequency and complexity of disasters. All parties therefore
need to work together in the following areas.

First, countries should jointly build cross-border disaster-chain monitoring and
early warning systems. As glacier melt accelerates — increasing the number of glacial
lakes and the risk of outburst floods, countries need to collaborate on integrated
space-, air-, and ground-based monitoring of glacier-related hazards that span national
boundaries. This would enhance early detection and warning capabilities for glacial
changes and associated secondary disasters. At the same time, countries should jointly
conduct comprehensive surveys of glacier-related risks, shifting from reactive disaster
relief to proactive risk management at the source.

Second, countries should deepen information sharing and make advanced technologies
more widely accessible. Currently, international assistance is largely limited to
bilateral relief efforts after disasters occur. There is an urgent need to establish
a regular and institutionalized framework for multilateral coordination. Cutting-
edge technologies such as satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence-powered
forecasting and digital twins, along with capacity-building resources including 
equipment, funding and experience sharing, should be made more accessible to developing
countries. This would help enhance risk monitoring, early warning, and emergency
response capabilities in cross-border regions.

Third, countries should pursue climate mitigation and adaptation in a coordinated
manner. All countries must earnestly shoulder their responsibilities in global climate
governance, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, 
and champion true multilateralism by taking stronger actions to curb global warming.
At the same time, greater efforts are needed to build disaster preparedness and 
resilience in different regions. Full consideration should be given to the compounding
impacts of cascading disasters, while disaster-resistance standards and protection
levels for infrastructure should be systematically raised to strengthen overall 
capacity to withstand extreme climate events and secondary disasters.

Climate change is a common challenge facing all humanity. Only by sharing responsibilities
and working together across borders, with early warning in place and risk management
focused at the source, can the world work hand in hand to safeguard a safer and 
more sustainable future for generations to come.

---

  |  This article was produced by Cision PR Newswire, our trusted news partner. The views expressed and the content presented here are solely those of the author and may not fully reflect the opinions of Thailand Business News. |

---

 
**Read the original article :** [Tackling climate disasters together, safeguarding our shared future ](http://www.prnasia.com/story/archive/5043606_AE43606_0?rand=184833)
