Balendra Shah, the 36-year-old prime minister of Nepal, is set to address the United Nations General Assembly on climate reparations, positioning himself as a voice for Gen Z globally. His first overseas trip since taking office in March comes after devastating floods in Nepal left thousands dead or missing, with scientists suggesting climate change exacerbated the disaster. Mr. Shah plans to urge heavy industrial polluters to pay for their role in global warming. He rose to power through a Gen Z movement that unseated Nepal's political old guard in September 2025, following protests in which security forces killed young demonstrators.

An engineer and poet-rapper known as Balen, he was elected mayor of Kathmandu in 2022 on a platform railing against corruption and foreign influence. However, his leadership style is drawing criticism at home. Critics, including members of Nepal's Gen Z, accuse him of a dictatorial mindset, citing his tendency to keep decision-making in a tight circle and his use of sunglasses and social media over Parliament meetings. "People right now are living in a culture of fear because of the prime minister and his people," said Om Prakash Aryal, a veteran human rights lawyer and former home minister.