Capitalism's greed destroying earth: speakers

Seminar calls for urgent global action to prevent environmental destruction

KARACHI:

Capitalism's relentless pursuit of profit has pushed the planet to the brink of disaster. The survival of life on Earth is now tied to the dismantling of this exploitative system. "Now or never" is the call under which the global struggle against environmental destruction has become an urgent necessity.

These views were expressed by renowned intellectual Dr Asghar Dashti at a seminar titled "Workers in Peril: How Capitalism Fuels Climate Catastrophe and Exploitation" organised by the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan (NTUF).

He was accompanied by NTUF general secretary Nasir Mansoor, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan's Sindh vice chairperson Khizar Qazi, NTUF additional general secretary Riaz Abbasi, and Home Based Women Workers Federation president Saira Feroz.

Dr. Dashti warned that current science has failed to address these changes adequately, citing reports that predict Pakistan could face freshwater depletion by 2050. He explained that climate change is a direct consequence of fossil fuel burning over the past 500 years since the industrial era began, resulting in alarming temperature rises of 2.5-3 degrees Celsius. This has led to unprecedented climate-induced disasters and the emergence of more resilient diseases, with pharmaceutical companies profiting from the crisis.

He strongly criticised COP28, pointing out the irony of its host country UAE's fossil fuel dependency and the appointment of ADNOC head Sultan al Jaber as chair-a company significantly contributing to greenhouse emissions. The conference, he noted, concluded without concrete pledges, merely promising to "think about reducing emissions" while continuing fossil fuel drilling.

Mansoor, who moderated the event, highlighted the devastating coastal erosion in Pakistan, where the ocean devours 100 acres of land daily. He strongly condemned the federal government's 6 Canal Project, emphasizing how it neglects the needs of downstream communities in Sindh.

He emphasised that the public, particularly the working class, often overlooks climate issues due to pressing economic and security concerns, despite their direct impact on lives and livelihoods. He noted the deterioration of Malir and Lyari rivers into untreated sewage channels flowing directly into the sea.

Qazi emphasised that industries globally are responsible for 70% of climate change impacts. He warned about the loss of mangroves, mountain ecosystems, and ocean reefs, significantly affecting marine life and fish populations. The increasing frequency of droughts, extreme rains, and wildfires poses unprecedented challenges, with the working class bearing the brunt of these impacts. He emphasised the need to understand these issues and implement measures to reduce effects, including alternative energy sources.

Other speakers noted that the International Labour Organization (ILO) predicts that by 2030, climate change could cost 80 million jobs, particularly affecting agriculture, construction, and textile industries. Extreme heat already causes 23 million occupational injuries and nearly 19,000 deaths annually, with 26.2 million people suffering from chronic kidney disease due to heat exposure at work.

They said that Pakistan remains among the worst-affected countries by climate change. Recent floods, intensified by rapidly melting glaciers, have already demonstrated the devastating consequences.