The title might appear disturbing, but it reflects today’s ground situation. It has now been some three decades since we started to discuss climate change, but even after this long period of discussions, deliberations, concerns, and commitments, there have been no concrete steps to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change, particularly for developing nations.
The attitude of the developed world that is responsible for disturbing the climate pattern due to excessive greenhouse emissions has forced this author to declare climate change as the new weapon of universal destruction with the developed nations against the developing world.
Recently COP 28, like the previous 27 COPs, has also shown its grave concerns about the fast degrading climate, and more than a hundred Heads of the States and governments, have solemnly pledged that they will make generous contributions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on the most vulnerable developing nation. While one must not lose hope and remain optimistic, the developed nations’ track record compels people in developing countries not to have high hopes.
The UN report suggests that climate experts are concerned about the non-action of the governments to control greenhouse emissions and the temperature rise that could range up to 30C by the end of the century against the agreed upon 1.50C. The “seven biggest emitters alone (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) accounted for about half of all global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.” Each of these countries is responsible for the consequences of climate change that have no boundaries now. It includes “intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity” among others.
Pakistan must not forget the psycho-social needs of the affected people because these intangible effects have far-reaching consequences on thousands of families
However, these are the tangible effects of climate change and can be measured in terms of losses. However, my concern is about the intangible losses in the psycho-social domain caused by climate change, particularly in developing nations. These intangible effects include emotional disorder, displacement due to loss of property, poor quality of life after losses of household effects, and loss of livestock, destruction of schools forcing children to stay without education and lose academic years.
In the health domain, the rising diseases due to climate change include undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress, and according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050.
Pakistan is one the most affected countries due to climate change, perhaps due to its diverse topography. Pakistan is blessed with glaciated mountains in the north, river-intensive plains in the centre, and warm waters in the south. However, nearly all of these topographical areas have been affected due to climate change over the last three decades. The country has faced the melting of glaciers, flash floods, droughts, water scarcity, and even smog.
Over the past few years, floods have destroyed the communication infrastructure and displaced millions from their homes. Crops worth millions are destroyed every year along with thousands of livestock. The displaced people cannot return to their lands to sow the seeds for the next season due to soil erosion and lack of required funds to buy the seeds and fertilizers. Unfortunately, there is no worthwhile crop insurance and the government is always short of funds on accounts of rehabilitation of the affected areas.
Pakistan certainly needs a large chunk of climate funds to recover the earlier losses and concurrently build its capacity to fight for protection and prevention of future impacts of climate hazards. Moreover, Pakistan must not forget the psycho-social needs of the affected people because these intangible effects have far-reaching consequences on thousands of families for generations to come.
With all due respect, hundreds of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) getting funds against rural development and capacity building must make compelling documentaries and appealing reports on the plight of the climate-affected people so that the developed countries who are responsible for the climate degradation understand and help the government to make the place as livable again.
Coming back to the title again, how is climate change a new weapon of universal destruction at the hands of developed countries against developing countries? The developed world responsible for the degradation of the climate is less likely to help the developing world in mitigating the effects of climate change. Without this much-needed financial and technological assistance, the developing countries will continue to go down on the Human Development Indices (HDI).
The shadow of climate destruction on the developing nations will continue to grow, and perhaps this is what is most desirable for the developed world. However, if the developed nations are sincere in their approach towards humanity, they must immediately release the much-needed climate funds and distribute them according to the needs of the affected countries instead of distributing these scarce resources on geo-strategic considerations and to the pliant states. The organizers of COP 28 may look into these concerns.
The writer of this article has authored three international books: “Nuclear Deterrence and Conflict Management Between India and Pakistan,” “South Asia Needs Hybrid Peace” and “Understanding Sun Tzu and the Art of Hybrid War.”