Melting poles

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The recent revelation that Greenland's ice sheet melted 17 times faster than average during May's Arctic heatwave is a reminder of the global nature of the climate change crisis. Thousands of miles away in Pakistan, we were also seeing record temperatures, as the mercury crossed 50 degrees Celsius in several cities. In Iceland, which is also in the subarctic region, temperatures hit a record 26 degrees Celsius in mid-May.

While that may not seem like much without context, it is almost twice the average daily temperature for the same month in previous years and enough of an extreme to have a catastrophic impact on flora and fauna. Even slight shifts can have dramatic environmental and human consequences, as we have become all too familiar over the past several years.

Underscoring how these events do not occur in a vacuum, the massive amounts of meltwater being released by Greenland will directly contribute to rising sea levels, which is a serious problem for Pakistan. Cities along the low-lying coastal belt, including Karachi and Gwadar, are already facing inundation. Saltwater intrusion has already swallowed 4.3 million acres of land in Sindh, displacing over 1 million people.

In Gwadar, homes now flood from groundwater seepage, turning courtyards into saline swamps. Coastal fishermen in all areas are also feeling the pinch due to changing fish behaviours. Meanwhile, the government's revenue-generating moves have caused quiet consternation because of the additional pressure it puts on many families.

Pakistan emits less than 1% of global greenhouse gases but ranks among the top 10 climate-vulnerable nations. Meanwhile, the US, China, Russia and Germany historically contributed over 50% of carbon dioxide emissions. Arctic melting — driven primarily by industrialised nations — exposes this brutal asymmetry. Those least responsible drown first.