Pakistan Floods and the Reality of Climate Racism
Source: REUTERS
Pakistan is drowning. The country is suffering after experiencing heavy monsoon rains since June of 2022 and does not have the infrastructure to support its people. A devastating number of deaths and injuries have occurred due to this natural disaster. As reported by CNN, “More than 1,100 people have died and 33 million people are impacted—that's more than the population of Texas.”
The South Asian nation has been particularly vulnerable to the climate crisis even though it is only responsible for 1% of greenhouse gas emissions. The people feel that they are “paying the price...for the industrialization of rich countries that has resulted in this climate change.” High-income countries in the Global North committed to giving at least $100 billion to countries in the Global South by 2020 to support their transition away from fossil fuel usage and their adaptation to climate change. Unfortunately, this promise has not been fulfilled yet. Many people are questioning global leaders about who should pay for land and resource destruction. The United States was one of several developed countries at the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow that opposed mandated payments for "loss and damages,” even though the US has historically produced the most greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
The Global North has been able to recover or receive global help when faced with a disaster. Moreover, media attention for “whiter” nations has always been at the forefront of your news feed. MSNBC columnist Natasha Noman writes, "Deprioritizing crises that affect Black and brown people might make them more tolerable for the industrialized world in the short term, but it is a surefire way to amplify climate-related fallout, in the long run, making the world more violent and less inhabitable for all of us."
Climate change is inherently racist. Despite having generally very low carbon footprints, people of color in the Global South will be the group most impacted by the climate issue. Similar racial gaps also develop within nations as a result of egregious structural injustices left behind by a long history of unjust power dynamics. Hearing words like "racism" and "white supremacy" used in conversations about climate change might be unsettling for some people. Considering that we are all affected by climate change, it is frequently seen to be an environmental problem and not in the least bit racist. Robert Bullard stated in his 1993 book Confronting Environmental Racism that racism unquestionably influences exposure to environmental and health problems.
It is time to amplify the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis to establish a shared goal. We need to ensure that sustainable interventions are co-designed by a strong coalition for climate justice while holding the Global North accountable.
To learn more about how you can help Pakistan during this time, please spread awareness and donate to these relief funds below.
Pakistan Floods Appeal. Pakistan Floods: More than 33 million people have been affected
Disasters Emergency Committee
UNICEF USA Monsoon Relief
International Medical Corps: We are responding to flooding in Paskistan
