Conclusion

Throughout this report, we have heard from Pakistanis who have shared their testimonies about the chronic and acute crises they are facing as climate change wreaks havoc on their lands, livelihoods and physical wellbeing. The urgency of the climate crisis facing this region cannot be overemphasized, as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (2021) reveals that glacier melting and freshwater depletion could entirely eliminate Pakistan’s freshwater supply by 2050. Indeed, the International Monetary Fund has also sounded the alarm, listing Pakistan as third in the world for countries facing acute water scarcity.

As we read throughout this report, the effects of climate change are threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions in Pakistan. At the heart of this crisis lie women and girls. often overlooked, but in reality are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis every day — whether through loss of agricultural livelihoods, increasing poverty, rising levels of food insecurity, or walking hours a day to collect water for their households.

As one political representative remarked, “Women are more serious about climate change because they shoulder more responsibility and are more impacted by climate change as opposed to men.”

Any investment to combat climate change must place women at the center.

Pakistan is not the only low-income societies to be impacted by climate change on a frightening scale. The Global South as a whole is suffering the consequences of global warming disproportionately due to the failures of industrialized nations to lower their emissions. As one of these industrialized nations, Canada and other member-states of the Global North have a duty act now to respond to the existential crisis facing Pakistan.

In addition to reducing domestic emissions, Canada must invest in programming that takes a holistic approach to combating the effects of global warming. As highlighted throughout this report, in order to truly tackle the climate crisis in a sustainable manner, investments must be made into programming that is developed by experts, owned within and by the community, while promoting socioeconomic development. Climate change will not be addressed through environmental schemes alone (i.e. reforestation). Many women we spoke to emphasized that while they are extremely worried about global warming’s future impacts on their children, their acute needs and struggle for survival in the present are taking precedence over their desire to protect the environment. In order to create lasting and sustainable solutions, programs must prioritize those most impacted by climate change (i.e. women and girls) through an approach that adapts to environmental changes whilst addressing the economic drivers that are accelerating ecological degradation.

Islamic Relief has been at the forefront of developing this integrative and innovative programming, working with the most vulnerable communities to create livelihood opportunities that sustain and motivate the adoption and replication of these climateadaptive solutions.

While addressing the climate crisis may seem like a daunting task, the women who are experiencing the brunt of climate change’s impacts continue to hold onto hope that with the right investments, innovation and resources, they can overcome.

Endnotes

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3 Ajaz, T., & Majeed, M. T. (2018). Changing Climate Patterns and Women Health An Empirical Analysis of District Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Global Social Sciences Review, III(IV), 320-342. doi:10.31703/gssr.2018(III-IV).21

4 Arif, M. (2013). Climate and the vulnerability of rural communities of Muzaffarabad AJ&K. [Unpublished manuscript]. Iqra University. https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/281241229_Climate_Change_and_the_Vulnerability_of_Rural_Communities_of_Muzaffarabad_AJK

5 Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2021, October 1). Kashmir earthquake of 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Kashmir-earthquake-of-2005

6 Climate and average weather year round in Quetta. (n.d.). Weather Spark. https://weatherspark.com/y/106490/Average-Weather-in-Quetta-Pakistan-Year-Round

7 Climate induced migration in Pakistan: Global discourse, local realities and governance. (2021). Islamic Relief Worldwide. https://www.islamic-relief.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/11/IRWClimateInducedMigration_Digital-V2.pdf

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13 Kacyira, A. K. (2012). Addressing the sustainable urbanization challenge. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/addressing-sustainable-urbanization-challenge

14 Khan, A. J. & Fee, L. (2014). Cities and climate change initiative: Islamabad Pakistan climate change vulnerability assessment. UN-Habitat for a better urban future. https://fukuoka.unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IslamabadPakistan_23_February_2015_FINAL5th_revision.pdf

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18 Pakistan. Climate Change Knowledge Portal. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/pakistan/climate-data-historical#:~:text=Four%20seasons%20 are%20recognized%3A%201,monsoons%20from%20October%20to%20november.

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21 Responsible Forestry. World Wildlife Fund. https://www.worldwildlife.org/industries/responsible-forestry

22 Saeed, A. (2021, January 26). Pakistan 8th most vulnerable country to extreme weather patterns - report. Arab News. https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1798821/pakistan

23 Soil erosion and landslides. (n.d.). National Atlas. http://nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr/pages/page_1438.php

24 Shah, U. Z. (2021, July 28). Explainer: What is a cloudburst? Geo News. https://www.geo.tv/latest/362219-what-is-a-cloudburst#:~:text=A%20sudden%2C%20 heavy%20downpour%20of,which%20areas%20is%20it%20raining

25 Pakistan. United Nations Development Programme. https://www.adaptation-undp.org/explore/pakistan#:~:text=Pakistan’s%20climate%20change%20concerns%20 include,events%20including%20floods%20and%20droughts.

26 UNDP Ecosystems & Biodiversity. (2022, January 26). Taking stock: Democrting boundaries to protect Pakistan’s remaining forests. United Nations Development Programme. https://undp-biodiversity.exposure.co/taking-stock

27 Water scarcity. United Nations. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/scarcity/

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