Climate change has rapidly evolved into a focal point of discussion globally, as increasingly erratic weather patterns highlight its undeniable and escalating impact. While both domestic and international platforms are vocal and actively pursuing climate justice for the Global South, i.e. the most affected and vulnerable countries compared to their greenhouse gas emissions, there is a significant lack of focus on how climate change vulnerability varies among different segments of society, especially within these affected nations.
Evidently, vulnerable populations, particularly in Pakistan, including informal workers, small-scale farmers, women, indigenous communities, the urban poor, and marginalized groups, are the hardest hit by this crisis.
Agriculture employs approximately 38% of the population in Pakistan. In 2022, climate change-induced flooding severely impacted the agriculture sector, drastically altering the growth trajectory of small farmers. This unprecedented rainfall triggered severe flooding, resulting in damages totaling over $40 billion. According to the National Disaster Management Commission (NDMC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), floods that year affected more than 2 million acres of crops. Livestock losses were also devastating, with approximately 1 million livestock perishing. The country also suffered significant infrastructure damage, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster management and climate change adaptation measures.
According to UN estimates, 80% of those displaced by climate change are women. The catastrophic 2022 floods in Pakistan left nearly 650,000 pregnant women without healthcare, forcing them to give birth outdoors.
Furthermore, last year, Pakistan recorded extreme heat, with some regions surpassing 53 degrees Celsius, adversely affecting agricultural productivity. These communities face increased risks of displacement, hunger, and loss of income, further trapping them in a cycle of vulnerability.
Climate change disproportionately affects women. In rural areas, gender inequality is more pronounced, exacerbating the challenges women face. According to UN estimates, 80% of those displaced by climate change are women. The catastrophic 2022 floods in Pakistan left nearly 650,000 pregnant women without healthcare, forcing them to give birth outdoors. Additionally, eight million girls and women were deprived of basic menstrual hygiene products and sanitation facilities. Another alarming phenomenon, known as “Monsoon Brides,” has emerged. As Pakistan faces devastating monsoon floods, a new wedding season begins, with underage girls as young as 10 being married off to men more than twice their age.
Even urban centers in Pakistan struggle with inadequate infrastructure and resources, but the urban poor — especially those living in informal settlements or slums — are particularly vulnerable to climate-related risks. These populations are exposed to poor air quality, inadequate sanitation, and the spread of climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, cholera, and dengue. For instance, last year, a concerning increase in chikungunya cases in Karachi highlighted how unprecedented rainfall and climate change contributed to the outbreak.
According to a World Bank report, in 2022, Pakistan's informal economy was valued at approximately $457 billion. While much of this is due to efforts to evade taxes and avoid registration hurdles, the true victims are informal daily wagers, who are often the sole breadwinners of their families. These workers already earn far below the country's minimum wage, and the nature of their work — largely seasonal and based on construction, painting, plumbing, and repairs — makes them particularly vulnerable. As Pakistan faces extreme heatwaves and urban flooding, these workers frequently find themselves without jobs and, consequently, without food.
Pakistan has developed various policies with ambitious targets for carbon emission reduction. However, these often fall short in addressing the needs of the country's most vulnerable populations, who require urgent governmental support and intervention. Addressing these inequalities demands a comprehensive and inclusive approach to climate policy — one that prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable and ensures that climate adaptation and mitigation efforts benefit all segments of society.
In a world where the consequences of climate change are increasingly evident, Pakistan must not only demand justice on the global stage but also provide its own citizens with much-needed climate justice through concrete policy actions.
