Amnesty calls for global action to address climate crisis in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD – Amnesty International has called for global intervention to address the lurking climate crises in Pakistan.

In a report released Monday, global human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the South Asian country faces disasters ranging from floods to heat waves.

The report describes Pakistan as a country at the forefront of the climate crisis.

It says people face disproportionately severe and often life-threatening consequences.

Pakistan emits less than 1% of greenhouse gasses.

Yet it is among the 10 countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

“Pakistan is on the front-line of the climate crisis. Climate injustice is starkly visible, with its people facing disproportionately severe consequences, often life-threatening, despite their small contribution to climate change,” the report said.

Last year, it experienced the worst rains in recent history, flooding a third of the country and claiming more than 1,700 lives.

Of the country’s roughly 250 million people, more than 33 million were affected by the floods, which caused a huge loss of about $30 billion.

 Amnesty’s South Asia deputy director, Dinushika Dissanayake, called on richer countries to make a strong commitment to reducing emissions.

“On World Environment Day, we hope our report serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility towards some of the most marginalized people exposed to extreme temperatures. They are being forced to live in torrid conditions, as these searing temperatures rise every year while we idly let time go by,” Amnesty’s Deputy South Asia he said.

Dissanayake also called on richer countries to provide funds to help people adapt to climate change and to quickly bring into operation the Damage and Loss Fund established at COP27.

According to the report, more than 40 million people in Pakistan do not have access to electricity, while others are irregularly supplied.