PAKISTAN is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts despite being one of the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases. Climate change has intensified the monsoon rains and increased the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires. These disasters have destroyed millions of people’s livelihoods, homes and communities, forcing them to migrate or be displaced within or across borders.
However, displacement is not only a physical phenomenon but also a social and psychological one. It exposes people to exploitation and abuse by smugglers, traffickers, employers, or other actors. It also deprives them of legal protection, basic services, and social support. It erodes their coping mechanisms and resilience.
Children are especially vulnerable to displacement and its consequences. They may lose or be separated from their parents or caregivers. They may drop out of school or face food insecurity and malnutrition. They may also become targets for violence, abuse, neglect, recruitment by armed groups, or trafficking for different purposes, such as forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, or child marriage.
An endless loop between climate injustice and conflict dynamics can create a vicious cycle of vulnerability and violence. Climate change can also exacerbate the existing drivers and triggers of conflict, such as resource scarcity, inequality, migration, and governance failures. Conflict can worsen climate change’s effects and reduce people’s and institutions’ capacity to cope and adapt to them. Conflict can also degrade the environment and ecosystems, providing vital functions for regulating the climate and supporting human well-being.
It is important to address the root causes and drivers of climate change and conflict to break this cycle and integrate climate action and peacebuilding efforts. This requires a holistic and multidimensional approach that involves various actors and sectors at different levels.
The Global community is reaching out to meet at COP 28 this year and discuss the updated emission reduction targets aligned with the Paris Agreement, climate finance to support adaptation and mitigation in vulnerable regions, promoting a swift transition to clean energy, nature-based solutions, climate justice, technology transfer for climate action, sustainable ocean management, circular economy initiatives, and active involvement of youth and the public in climate initiatives. These dialogues likely enhance global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainability.
A year following the devastating floods that wrought havoc in Pakistan in June 2022, affecting 33 million individuals and submerging vast areas, the Pakistani government declared a nationwide state of emergency. This catastrophe resulted in the loss of over 1,700 lives and injured more than 12,000 individuals. Various humanitarian groups extended life-saving aid to the affected population. Nevertheless, the journey to full recovery remains ongoing, necessitating continued support. However, the humanitarian needs remain high, with more than 10.5 million people food insecure, 4.5 million people without clean drinking water, 3.5 million children under five severely malnourished, and another 23 million children out of school.
Pakistan must adopt such an approach to address the interrelated issues of climate change and displacement by enhancing the resilience and adaptation of communities affected by climate change and disasters, strengthening the legal and institutional frameworks to prevent and combat human trafficking, and protecting victims’ rights, improving the coordination and cooperation among different actors and sectors at local, national, regional, and international levels, raising awareness and build capacity among relevant stakeholders, providing comprehensive and tailored assistance and support to survivors and promoting social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
Pakistan needs to work on disaster preparedness and act now to protect the rights and dignity of the affected population from recent floods, droughts, and past earthquakes. Besides the ongoing economic issues, this issue, if not taken seriously, can adversely affect everything because there is a strong linkage between natural calamities and man-made instabilities, including political, social, and economic.
—The writer is a strategic communications specialist in the humanitarian and development sector, particularly focused on conflict-affected regions.
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