THE monsoon chapter of 2026 comes with the same headline for people across the third world countries. People are losing their homes and livelihoods as affluent countries continue to prioritize their own interests. When disasters hit countries like Pakistan, there is only one option: borrow to rebuild. Yet rebuilding marks the start of a deeper crisis. The UN Climate Change report found that climate-vulnerable countries have already paid an additional $40-62 billion in interest over the past decade. The floods are only the trigger; the real crisis is the debt trap that follows, rarely making headlines.

Behind this unequal climate burden lies the question of responsibility. Who should pay for a crisis they did not create? The answer begins with those that contributed most to it. Reports from Our World in Data shows that the US is responsible for nearly 25 percent of historical emissions, more than any other country. This record increased hopes that Washington would lead the global climate action, but they turned back. The US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, cut down on international financing, and cancelled several energy-transition agreements worth billions of dollars for developing nations. In terms of domestic policies, it has increased the........

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