Will “climate justice” be achieved through COP27?
These days, the term “climate justice” is extensively utilized in Pakistan’s policy communities, think tanks, specialists, and media.
A larger discussion on the idea of climate justice and its applicability has been triggered by recent floods. But Pakistan is not experiencing a climate catastrophe for the first time.
Over the past three decades, it has experienced severe climatic shocks. The terrible drought of 1999–2003, which affected Balochistan, areas of Punjab, and Sindh, marked the beginning of climate change’s repercussions. To get quality employment, people had to move.
Another regular calamity brought on by the climate is flooding. The country has had a string of violent floods beginning in 2010. According to estimates, the 2010 floods cost the economy more than $10 billion. As a result, food insecurity rose by roughly 10%, directly affecting 20 million people.
Similar to the 2010 floods, the 2011 floods affected 5.3 million people, destroyed 1.2 million homes, and claimed 361 lives. In addition, 1.7 million acres of land were submerged.
Flooding-related destruction persisted in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The already shaky economy has been destroyed by this.
Pakistan has attempted to engage the conscience of the world, but with limited success. International luminaries continue to visit the nation and show their support for the people, but no firm strategy has been created and put into action. The only result of the efforts was the accumulation of further debt.
In terms of the scale of the harm and destruction done to the population and the economy, the floods of 2022 continue to be unmatched.
The most recent estimates indicate that they have affected 33 million people and uprooted 7.9 million. According to estimates, 598,000 people are housed in relief camps.
In addition, 9.4 million acres of crops were flooded, 1.1 million livestock perished, and 2 million dwellings were damaged.
According to the World Bank, poverty will rise by 4-7%. Pakistan has calculated that the floods had cost more than $40 billion in total.
The dignitaries are expressing their regrets as in the past and have promised to ask for donor support for the disaster-stricken nation. International organisations, the UN, and major powers are occupied with lip service. In light of this, Pakistan should understand that appeals for climate justice are futile and will not result in anything.
Climate justice is merely an ideal for the international community, particularly the industrialised nations. They make use of it to deflect criticism and gain favour on international forums.
Developed countries have worked to shift blame for climate change to underdeveloped and poorer nations ever since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established. They have created a thorough policy and execution system with that end in mind.
First, civic organisations and think tanks in developing and least developed countries are supported by rich countries. These organisations shame their own governments into accepting accountability for their deeds.
It is a cunning ploy to deflect attention away from the historical guilt of the industrialised West, which has made the largest historical contribution to global warming and carbon emissions. The wealthy countries now have the much-needed breathing room thanks to this program, which has mainly been successful.
For instance, funds are provided to local civil society groups and think tanks to promote irrational mitigation measures like the development of clean energy.
While Western nations continue to use fossil fuels, they encourage developing and least developed nations to choose renewable energy sources. They have acquired all the advantages of growth and have transitioned into proponents of renewable energy without taking into account the needs of developing and underdeveloped nations.
Data, which is crucial, shows that developed countries continue to lead investment in coal power generation. In the US, coal is used to produce 23.5% of the electricity.
Another supporter of renewable energy is Germany, which generates 35.5% of its electricity from coal. India, which prides itself on being a world leader in solar energy, currently generates 77% of its electricity from coal, and PM Modi just announced intentions to start new coal mines.
The developed world has never followed through on its promise to help the developing world financially. Instead, they have tried to turn the fact of climate change into an economic opportunity.
The launch of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero marked the culmination of this plan, which was shown during COP26. This is a great strategy to release them from their collective historical debt and open up new economic chances for their own businesses.
Will “climate justice” be achieved through COP27?
Pakistan must thus abandon its utopian belief that the international community will help it make up for its losses of more than $40 billion. They will only provide a small amount of money to relief operations and carry out additional research to support loans from their banking institutions.
Pakistan should seek to address institutional flaws in the future and reconsider if assigning the provinces, the task of reducing the effects of climate change is the appropriate course of action. Additionally, as part of the Climate Compatible Rehabilitation and Development Plan, it should create a business plan to draw in green investment (CCRDP). The nation should also take advantage of the COP27 as a chance to draw in new capital.
Conclusion: Rather than piling up more debt by using the victim card, Pakistan should focus on luring investment through business strategies.
