Elite capture and climate justice in Pakistan

Pakistan faces a critical gap in understanding development issues, with a small, influential elite dominating the conversation on topics from human rights and gender equality to the increasingly urgent matter of climate change. While marginalised communities are sometimes included, their participation often amounts to little more than following the lead of self-proclaimed leaders. Even those with genuine expertise in climate change often shy away from identifying those most responsible for addressing it. The result is that climate gatherings frequently end with calls for public action, while governments and businesses primarily focus on securing climate finance and investment.

Powerful groups, whether from government, business or other influential circles, rarely discuss climate justice when they meet in luxury settings. Even if the topic comes up, they tend to reduce it to the well-worn disparity between the Global North and South, as if that's the whole story. Ironically, when members of these groups occasionally attend community-level climate events, they may posture as champions of climate justice, but they avoid discussing the specifics. They fail to address the rights and privileges of the most affected communities, especially regarding compensation for the harms caused by those responsible for climate change. Meanwhile, our grassroots climate activists, who are often more focused on reacting to events than proactively shaping them, often miss this calculated manipulation by the elite.

A recent regional climate conference saw strong attendance from the climate community, but local indigenous people were conspicuously absent. It's possible some invitees couldn't make it, or perhaps the invitations weren't extended with much enthusiasm. This raises the question of whether the conference location lacks an indigenous community, or if their inclusion simply wasn't a priority for the organisers. The latter seems more likely, as including indigenous people might conflict with the organisers or their partners' vested interests.

In Pakistan, there's a common perception that indigenous people are only relevant for showcasing during visits from global dignitaries, often in the aftermath of climate disasters, like the floods Sindh experienced in 2022. Unfortunately, many of those leading the fight against climate change seem to think they can achieve their goals more effectively by excluding indigenous and marginalised communities. Even if token attempts are made to appear inclusive, only a select few with political agendas are included, individuals who have little connection to the realities of climate change on the ground and who primarily rely on digital activism for promotion and publicity.

Reputable climate analysts have observed that a sudden surge of climate activists in a developing city's capital often suggests a calculated effort to create such activists. These individuals, rather than serving their communities, widen the divide between them and critics who rightly emphasise community inclusion in all climate initiatives. Anyone can easily compare the level of climate activism, even if limited to social media, in the capital versus the rest of the country. Ironically, a few genuine climate organisations actively support all interest groups without sacrificing their own agenda, a sensible strategy during a climate emergency. However, in other cities large and small, those genuinely trying to combat climate change remain largely directionless, with the exception of a select few directly or indirectly linked to vested interests.

Treating climate justice as mere rhetoric or a catchy talking point in negotiations benefits those who see climate change as a golden opportunity. These individuals exploit the issue to advance their own agendas, whether it's gaining national or international recognition, expanding their businesses, or boosting their careers. They know, and are quite content with the fact, that climate justice is championed by a few small, genuine communities with limited resources, making a large-scale struggle for its implementation in every climate project difficult. A small segment of the legal community is also aware of this, but their voices remain unheard due to their limited reach, especially in elite climate forums. Therefore, this topic is cleverly used in the agendas of those who are quick to seize any climate finance-related opportunity to further their own growth and prosperity.

The biggest problem is that the public doesn't understand its role in fighting climate change. Those in charge are shamelessly pushing responsibility onto individuals, expecting them to adapt on their own. It's like how communities in Karachi, especially during times of political unrest, have had to set up their own security, building gates and walls. Middle-class neighbourhoods manage this kind of self-reliance, but the poor often bear the brunt of the damage, struggling to rebuild afterward. Yet, the powerful seem oblivious or unwilling to admit that climate change is a global issue under constant scrutiny, especially with social media. Maybe their advisors are minimising the potential fallout, or maybe they're just in denial.

If the government and development sector were truly committed, they'd do more than just casually mention climate justice in policy documents. While discussion and debate were acceptable when climate action wasn't so critical, we're now running out of time. Consider the process for approving climate-related policies: they're often posted on social media for public input, where a small group, often deferential to the elite, enthusiastically offers praise. A few dissenting opinions are easily dismissed. These documents are often drafted by consultants due to a lack of in-house expertise. These same consultants, seeking to ensure a smooth approval process, strategically involve critics and activists who are conveniently compliant with their client's agenda. The final result? Approved documents pay only lip service to climate justice.