Farmers affected by the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan have announced plans to file a climate justice claim in German court against two major global carbon emitters. They say the unprecedented disaster highlighted Pakistan’s extreme vulnerability to climate change despite its minimal contribution to global emissions.
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The announcement was made at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club by farmer claimants from Larkana, Jacobabad and Dadu districts. The farmers said the floods destroyed crops, livestock and homes, pushing thousands of rural families into prolonged economic hardship.
According to organisers, the claim will be filed under German civil law and guided by the “polluter pays” principle. The case seeks compensation for climate impacts that contributed to the 2022 floods and will target two corporations identified among the world’s highest carbon dioxide emitters.
The farmers said Pakistan contributes less than one per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions but has suffered disproportionate losses due to climate-induced extreme weather. They argued that historically high-emitting corporations must be held accountable for climate-related damage in vulnerable countries.
A total of 43 farmers from Sindh are expected to join the case, seeking compensation for losses suffered during the floods. The claim will reportedly be filed against German companies RWE and Heidelberg Materials.
National Trade Union Federation leader Nasir Mansoor said climate change was not only an environmental issue but also a livelihood and labour rights concern. He noted that repeated climate shocks were undermining rural employment, food security and deepening inequality.
Dr Shaikh Tanveer Ahmed of the HANDS Welfare Foundation said the 2022 floods were not merely a natural disaster but a consequence of global warming. He stressed that farmers were paying the price for emissions they did not cause.
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Speaking from Germany, constitutional lawyer Miriam Saage-Maab of the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights said the case aimed to amplify the voices of flood-affected communities. Medico International’s Karin Zennig said climate litigation was increasingly being used worldwide to seek accountability for climate harm.