In August 2022, Pakistan faced unprecedented devastation as torrential monsoon rains triggered catastrophic floods affecting over 33 million people, comparable to the population of Canada. Our field teams promptly responded, offering emergency aid to nearly one million affected individuals, providing essentials like food, water, shelter, and critical assistance.
Among the impacted voices, a resident from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shared, “I’ve lived here all my life, witnessing floods in 2010 and prior, but this one was exceptionally destructive due to its prolonged duration and unprecedented height, submerging entire neighborhoods.”
The 2022 floods weren’t standalone events but rather exacerbated by human-induced climate change, as experts assert. This report, based on pre-flood data, underscores Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change.
Despite contributing less than 1% to global carbon emissions, Pakistan bears one of the highest burdens of climate change, ranking as the fifth most climate-vulnerable nation. Over the years (1999-2018), Pakistan lost nearly ten thousand lives and incurred economic losses of 3.8 billion USD due to climate-induced disasters.
Climate change manifests in shifting seasonal patterns, rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and glacier melt in the north, compounded by frequent extreme weather events and natural disasters.
In Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), climate change exacerbates seasonal variations, leading to landslides, flash floods, and water scarcity.
Adopting a holistic approach, Islamic Relief has been aiding Pakistan for over three decades, integrating climate-adaptive strategies into its operations. Recognizing women as key agents of change, Islamic Relief emphasizes their pivotal role in climate resilience efforts.
To comprehensively address the climate crisis, Islamic Relief Canada researchers collaborated with their counterparts in Pakistan for a community-based inquiry study, with a special focus on women’s insights into climate change impacts.
This report highlights the multifaceted impacts of climate change on Pakistani communities and advocates for intersectional approaches that prioritize the most affected, offering sustainable livelihood opportunities and fostering climate-resilient solutions.
Climate change demands urgent global action. Governments must fulfill their domestic commitments and mobilize resources to assist vulnerable communities grappling with the dire consequences of climate change.
