11. Facing the Heat: How Environmental Change and Social Injustice Endanger Pakistan’s Most Vulnerable Citizens
Author: Mahnoor Fatima – Sr.Analyst, Social Justice – Pax Research Academy.
“Climate change is intrinsically linked to public health, food and water security, migration, peace and security. It is a moral issue. It is an issue of social justice, human rights and fundamental ethics. We have a profound responsibility to the fragile web of life on this Earth, and to this generation and those that will follow” Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Human society has evolved from nomadic survival to agricultural, and finally machine-driven society. Now, in the 21st century, humans are moving from machine-driven production to Artificial Intelligence. However, this rapid evolution has brought unprecedented changes in the natural environment. Nature can react fiercely if humans don’t act according to its laws or principles. The swift transformation of human society has made life easier, but it can also bring catastrophe. The Industrial Revolution, which started in Great Britain and spread worldwide, increased the pace of urbanisation. However, this urbanisation also brought social injustice.
Urban centres are the hub of the economy, so most people move there for a sustainable and inclusive future. Nevertheless, the future is at risk because of the division of labour. The changing environment is creating more risk to their future because these changes affect mostly low- and middle-income households and people living below the poverty line.
One of the main issues is the Urban Heat Island; according to the UN Environment Programme, global warming is set to cross the 1.5C limit within a few years. And according to UN-Habitat, the Global South faces the challenge of urban heat more than the Global North. Climate Change is killing people, and the report of the University of Chicago’s Climate Impact Lab indicates that most deaths are likely to occur in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, this divide persists in low- and middle-income countries.
Pakistan is home to 259.3 million people, with an urban population of 38.8% to 40%. According to the World Bank, 45 per cent of people live below the poverty line. This ratio raises the question of who can afford cooling materials and who can remain safe as temperatures rise. This division of labour creates social injustice. Because higher-income people use air conditioners, however, many people can’t afford these luxuries. Chicago University research calls it the “Morality Cooling Trap,” where people are trapped in heat waves and lack access to cooling. A Climate Impact Lab report shows that 89 per cent of Pakistanis are trapped in MCT; the heat is extreme, but many lack the resources to afford air conditioners; power outages are another major issue in Pakistan; and substandard housing poses a serious threat to low- and middle-income households. Water scarcity increases the cost of water tankers and prevents simple cooling measures. Outdoor labourers such as construction workers, street vendors, and brick-kiln workers are exposed to more heat than indoor labourers. Furthermore, the government provides no economic safety net.
The report from Chicago University also indicated that the deadly combination of extreme heat and lack of access to AC will lead to over 150,000 more deaths each year by 2050. Dr Khalid Waleed, an energy expert, said that lack of access to cooling is not an electricity problem, but a problem of reliability and affordability.
The key question is not how hot Pakistan’s cities are. The indicators only show the resilience of cities because wealthy areas remain cool; however, the main issue is who will stay safe and who will be exposed to the heat. This issue can’t be treated as temporary weather. A holistic approach: urban housing, labour protection, and economic and social safety nets should be provided by the government. The main test of governments is protecting those who need it most. The fate of the Global South isn’t sealed by urbanisation; our leaders decide it.