New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- "Hit by the climate we did not warm, and hit again by the wars we did not start." This is the story of almost every small state, aptly described by the Nepali Prime Minister Balen Shah in his United National General Assembly speech. Whether it is the war in West Asia or the climate induced disasters like floods, droughts and avalanches, it is the small states that suffer the most.

The recent flash floods and landslides are an example of what small states like Nepal are facing. Climate-induced disasters are no fairytale; the death of around 1400 people of various nationalities and around 6000 still missing paints a grim picture of what climate change can do to communities and countries.

The damage caused by the cata...