Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah recently spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, warning the world about the devastating effects of climate change after his country was hit by severe floods in August. The floods, which have claimed at least 1,400 lives and left many others missing, have been linked by international scientists to the melting of permafrost—frozen ground that remains frozen for long periods—caused by the burning of fossil fuels. These natural disasters are increasingly being tied to global warming, a phenomenon driven by greenhouse gas emissions. Shah emphasized that Nepal, a small nation, is disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing less than one-tenth of 1% of global heat-trapping gases. He stressed that climate change "does not recognize borders" and urged the international community to take immediate action. He criticized the current system for providing financial aid after such disasters, calling it slow and overly bureaucratic. While Shah did not ask for a specific amount of aid, he outlined the urgent need for relief, rebuilding, and long-term resilience for Nepal. The United States has pledged $31 million in aid to Nepal, bringing its total support to $36 million. However, this amount is less than 1% of what the country estimates it needs to recover from the disaster. Nepal’s foreign minister, Shisir Khanal, stated that the floods have caused losses exceeding $5 billion, which is equivalent to 15% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). This figure highlights the massive economic impact of the disaster on a nation already struggling with development challenges. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore has pointed out that the floods in Nepal are a stark reminder of the accelerating climate crisis. He warned that the situation poses serious risks to the water supply for over 2 billion people in Asia, emphasizing the need for global cooperation to address the growing threat of climate-related disasters.