Climate injustice

Pakistan is staring into an abyss far more threatening than any it has ever endured in its history. The country, home to more than 7,500 glaciers, has already seen 45% of them recede. Scientists warn that at the current pace, nearly 60% of these glaciers will melt away by 2050. The recent floods that have killed over 800 people and injured more than 1,100 this year are only a preview of the devastation to come.

If unchecked, this crisis could rewrite the geography of Pakistan and displace millions, eventually pushing the economy to the brink of collapse. And yet, the response — both international and domestic — has been nothing short of disgraceful. After the 2022 floods, the world pledged $10.9 billion at the Geneva conference.

More than a year later, Pakistan has received a mere $2.8 billion. This shortfall is a blatant betrayal of climate justice. Wealthy nations that built their prosperity on fossil fuels are abandoning one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries to fend for itself against a disaster it did not cause.

Remember Pakistan's contribution to global GHG emissions is not even one per cent. While the inaction of these wealthy nations must not be ignored, Pakistan's own leadership cannot be absolved either. Successive governments have treated climate change as a side issue, while the National Disaster Management Authority remains ineffective, armed with neither the capacity nor the urgency to act.

Early warning systems are inadequate and urban planning remains criminally reckless. Billions in pledges would mean little if funneled into a governance system too weak to deliver. The lack of foresight today is setting the stage for a brewing catastrophe.

Experts now warn that Pakistan is confronting a threat greater than any external adversary it has ever faced. To treat it with complacency is to invite a collapse from which recovery may be impossible. The international community must deliver the funds it pledged, not in fragments but in full, and with urgency.