Pakistan Faces "Crisis of Justice" as Climate-Induced Disasters Intensify

Strategic Insights -

The Pakistani climate change minister, Musadiq Malik, has condemned the disproportionate allocation of funding for climate change mitigation and the resulting "crisis of injustice" facing the country. Heavy rains and flash flooding have caused widespread damage, destruction, and loss of life, particularly in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The Climate Rate Index report ranked Pakistan as the country most affected by climate change in 2022, while the monsoon season has already claimed at least 32 lives.

Key Takeaways:

  • The climate change minister, Musadiq Malik, has termed the situation as a "crisis of justice" and "lopsided allocation" of funding, affecting vulnerable populations, particularly children and older people.
  • Pakistan has received $10bn in pledges and $2.8bn in loans from international creditors, but these funds are inadequate to address the scale of the crisis.
  • The country is responsible for about 0.5% of global CO2 emissions but is facing climate-related challenges, including glacier melt, increased flooding, and heatwaves, which have already claimed thousands of lives and affected millions of people.
  • A report by the climate change ministry and Italian research institute EvK2CNR found that Pakistan is home to over 13,000 glaciers, which are melting due to rising temperatures, posing a significant risk to communities, water scarcity, and infrastructure.
  • Amnesty International has reported that Pakistan's healthcare and disaster response systems are failing to meet the needs of children and older people, resulting in disproportionate levels of death and disease.
  • The country requires an estimated $40-50bn in annual investment until 2050 to address its climate change challenges, but the current funding gap is stark, with only a fraction of the required funds allocated.

Statistics:

  • At least 32 people were killed in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces since the start of the monsoon season.
  • Over 33 million people were affected by the 2022 floods, with more than 1,700 deaths and $14.8bn in damages and $15.2bn in economic losses.
  • Last year, floods affected thousands of people, and a heatwave killed almost 600 people.
  • Pakistan's top 10 countries account for nearly 70% of global carbon emissions, but 85% of green financing goes to the same countries, while the rest of the world receives only 10-15% of the funding.
  • The country needs an estimated $40-50bn in annual investment until 2050 to address its climate change challenges.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera: "Death toll rises after Pakistan hit by flash floods and heavy rains"
  • The Climate Rate Index report (2025)
  • A study by the climate change ministry and Italian research institute EvK2CNR
  • Amnesty International report: "Pakistan's healthcare and disaster response systems failing to meet needs of children and older people"