Climate stress reinforcing inequalities

In the midst of the global Covid-19 crisis, which has exacerbated the livelihood crisis, a virus of inequality has manifested. However, even before the pandemic hit us, accelerated climate change was already taking a whopping toll on the vulnerable and the marginalised who, in most cases, have been debarred from any socioeconomic progress. Within the most marginalised segments of our population lies another neglected, oppressed, subjugated community — the transgender community. This group of people is rarely heard in public spaces and has been deliberately snubbed by us. Today, with accelerated climate change becoming more destructive than ever, the plight of the transgender community inflames.

As heatwaves, torrential rains and extreme weather conditions become more common the transgender community bears the brunt of the crisis. This community prefers to live in segregated locations in a bid to reduce the risk of discrimination from neighbours or even landlords. As a result, they end up living in dilapidated conditions, where the risk of climate hazards is not only drastically severe but also inevitable. One cannot forget the destruction caused by the monsoon rains of Karachi in 2020, where the poor and vulnerable lost their homes and livelihoods. Many of them are still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the destruction. Among these is the transgender community. However, what is more upsetting is that little help and spotlight was given to the affected community under such trying circumstances.

The roots of the climate crisis are deeply tangled with the roots of multiple oppressions. People from low socio-economic backgrounds contribute the least to the climate crisis but will continue to suffer the most from its impacts.

According to United Nations statistics, the transgender community’s unemployment rate is three times that of the general population, inevitably putting it at a higher risk of homelessness and poverty. These developments make the group less equipped to face growing environmental catastrophes brought about by the looming climate crisis. In a country like Pakistan, where government statistics on the poor and marginalised in terms of unemployment are already outdated and overlooked, how can we expect to have clear, transparent and constructive records of the transgender community? Even before the Covid-19 pandemic generated damage of unprecedented scale and nature, the neglected transgender community was forced to make a living through begging and non-desirable work. This community in particular has been subjected to exclusion, violence of all sorts and exploitation because of the impacts of social stigma, discrimination, and hatred.

Despite the predicament of the transgender community, Pakistan’s parliament did enact a progressive law, The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, in order to empower them. But shortfalls remain in the implementation of this law. Most transgenders are not even cognizant of the fact that the law protects them from rampant persecution. Article 6(D) of the act stipulates the obligations by the government and the steps it should take. It states: “Formulate special vocational training programmes to facilitate, promote and support livelihood for transgender persons”. Nevertheless, the law fails to address how climate stress is further intensifying the livelihood crisis of the transgenders. It is the principal duty of the government to disburse funds to the community whenever climate-induced disasters take place, like last year’s floods in Karachi. A climate-friendly stimulus package which paves the way for sustainable economic growth, targeting the most underprivileged, is the urgent need of the hour. If our world is to become more sustainable and inclusive in the post-Covid world, we must do everything in our power to make constructive policies and legislation to tackle the rising inequalities created by the climate crisis.

While the government’s focus should be on flattening the Covid-19 curve, key issues such as a nationwide gender-sensitivity programme must not be kept on the back burner because the Covid crisis is heavily intertwined with the climate crisis and with the plight of the transgenders. As hatred and discrimination against the transgender community is on the upward trajectory, the concept of gender sensitivity through education at an early age could bring in positive results. Many Pakistanis, regardless of age — do not consider transgender people as equals, which inevitably paves the way for the deep-rooted bigotry and intolerance. This must change if we have any chance for becoming a progressive society.

The increasing impacts of climate trauma on the transgender community come not simply by virtue of identity, but by the existing societal discrimination towards that identity.

With transformative and progressive policymaking, the government can address the root causes of these underlying inequalities, reduce vulnerabilities of people to climate stress, and build long-term resilience. It is now high time to pave the way for a discourse connecting the issues faced by transgenders with climate change. A society’s track record is identified by how it treats its minorities, and the most vulnerable.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2021.

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