Friends of Earth Asia Pacific has condemned the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for taking seven years to approve a project designed to protect communities in Nepal from increasingly dangerous Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), warning that the delay exposes a critical failure in the international climate finance system.
The GCF project, aimed at reducing the risks and impacts of GLOFs in Nepal, was reportedly in the Fund’s pipeline in 2018 but was not approved until July 2025.
The devastating Bhotekoshi flash flood of 26 August has brought into sharp focus the consequences of failing to act quickly enough on escalating climate and cryosphere risks in the Himalayas.
Absolutely shocking
“The delay is unacceptable given the rapidly escalating risks facing Himalayan communities,” Friends of Earth Asia Pacific says
“It is absolutely shocking that the Green Climate Fund took seven years to approve a project aimed at protecting communities, infrastructure and ecosystems from increasing Glacial Lake Outburst Flood risks caused by human-induced climate change,” said Meena Raman, Climate Justice spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific.
“The project was in the GCF pipeline in 2018 but only got approved in July 2025. Had it been approved much earlier, early warning systems and other measures could at least have been in place to minimise the devastating impacts. This must not happen again. Time is of the essence when climate finance is intended to save lives.”
Climate finance need to stay connected to climate crisis
The organisation said the tragedy demonstrates that climate finance cannot continue to move at a pace that is disconnected from the speed of the climate crisis.
Friends of Earth Asia Pacific is calling on the GCF and developed-country governments that govern and fund international climate finance institutions to urgently accelerate funding for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness and resilience in vulnerable countries.
GCF is not delivering, alleged
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund, established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to support developing countries in reducing emissions and adapting to climate change.
Yet, Friends of Earth Asia Pacific says the experience of Nepal raises fundamental questions about whether the Fund is delivering climate finance at the speed and scale required by communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
A project specifically designed to address GLOF risks in Nepal remained in the GCF pipeline for seven years before approval. “Climate change is accelerating, but climate finance is moving far too slowly,” said Meena Raman.
“For communities living below unstable glaciers and glacial lakes, seven years is not an administrative delay. It can be the difference between having an early-warning system and facing a disaster without adequate protection.”
Loss and damage fund urged
The organisation said the GCF must urgently review the processes that have allowed critical adaptation projects to remain in the pipeline for years and establish mechanisms to prioritise projects addressing immediate and escalating climate risks.
It also called for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) to urgently provide financial assistance for rescue, recovery and reconstruction following the Bhotekoshi disaster.
“The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage must also urgently respond with the financial assistance needed for rescue and recovery,” said Raman.
“Developed-country board members of these funds must not delay action that can save lives. Immediate scaling up of resources for both adaptation and loss and damage is critical.”
Nepal’s communities cannot wait for another warning. “The mountains have warned us. The rivers have warned us. The scientists have warned us. The people have warned us,” said Prakash Dahal of Friends of the Earth Nepal.
“Nepal and the international community must now act before the next warning becomes another catastrophe,” expert added.