It's now clear that climate change is one of the biggest threats to our planet, along with pollution and the loss of biodiversity. Pollution is arguably the root cause of the other two. It first led to a decline in biodiversity, and then, with uncontrolled emissions, it worsened the greenhouse effect. Now, this enhanced greenhouse effect is trapping more heat than our climate needs, and human-caused climate change is intensifying. As a result, the global goal of keeping warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius was unfortunately exceeded in 2024.
Twenty years ago, the world finally woke up to the threat of rising global temperatures, the resulting increase in intense and frequent weather events, rising sea levels, and melting glaciers. The initial focus was on curbing greenhouse gas emissions from developed nations, which, thanks to forward-thinking planning and development, were already relatively climate resilient. The prevailing belief was that controlling these emissions was the primary challenge, a goal that has remained elusive even into the second decade of this century. Much of the effort has been spent setting targets, but these have often met with resistance from major powers, giving other developed nations a convenient excuse for non-compliance.
Now, the world is experiencing a dramatic increase in intense and frequent weather events. While developed nations have largely weathered these changes due to their robust infrastructure, developing countries are bearing the brunt of climate change despite contributing the least to the problem. The primary reason for the devastation in developing nations is their lack of preparedness for climate disasters. This vulnerability is often exacerbated by poor planning and development practices, where short-term gains take priority over long-term sustainability.
The absence of visionary leadership and a reliance on ad-hoc solutions have left these nations ill-equipped to handle even moderate climate events. As a result, these countries find their systems severely strained by climate disasters, leading them to point fingers at the developed world for their plight. While acknowledging the role of developed nations in climate change, it's crucial to recognise that developing nations must also take responsibility for their own vulnerabilities, addressing the lack of preparedness and systemic issues that magnify the impact of these extreme weather events.
Many who identify as climate activists are either full-time professionals drawing salaries from climate-related projects or individuals focused on building their own influence within the field, often with an eye on securing grants and establishing their own projects
The impact of these climate-related events has also been felt in the developed world, leading to the 2015 Paris Agreement. This agreement stipulated that developed nations would not only reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but also provide financial assistance to the countries most vulnerable to climate disasters. Subsequently, a Global Adaptation Fund was established to allocate the necessary resources to help these vulnerable nations adapt to the devastating effects of climate change. Pakistan, unfortunately, is among those nations that have contributed minimally to greenhouse gas emissions but are now suffering disproportionately from the impacts of climate change.
The devastating floods of 2022 in Sindh province provide a stark example. These floods nearly wiped out rural areas, causing over $33 billion in losses and displacing thousands. Pakistan's official organisations were overwhelmed and unable to provide adequate, timely relief. Fortunately, Karachi's vibrant and diverse philanthropic network stepped in, sharing the government's burden and providing some rescue and relief to the flood victims. This demonstrated the crucial role civil society plays when government institutions, hampered by inefficiency, lack of motivation, and limited capacity, fail to deliver. Even then, the widespread philanthropic efforts came primarily from general community networks, as trained climate activists were virtually nonexistent in Sindh, with the exception of a few dedicated civil society organisation workers. This disaster highlighted a critical finding: the losses could have been significantly minimised with a sufficient number of trained disaster rescue and relief workers.
We still face a critical shortage of genuinely dedicated climate activists—individuals who can inspire action across all four key sectors of climate change management: government, businesses, civil society, and the general public. While a handful of dedicated activists have rightly earned recognition for their consistent efforts, many of those following in their footsteps appear to be primarily career-focused. Their main goals seem to be securing nominations for global conferences and scholarships for specialised studies. While it's certainly their right to pursue professional advancement, whether they're development professionals, sociologists, or social workers, the question remains: who will do the essential voluntary work if everyone is driven by career aspirations?
We, especially those of us who have long been involved in climate advocacy, haven't done enough to engage and train young people to dedicate some of their time to voluntary community climate action. Highly educated individuals could offer free climate change training to youth, and those with financial resources could contribute to grassroots efforts that empower young people to combat climate change. A prime example is the previous generation of environmental activists in major cities. Often financially secure due to their primary careers, they regularly volunteered a few hours to pressure the government to take action to protect and improve the environment.
While climate activism is increasingly visible, there's a stark absence of everyday individuals contributing their time and effort to the cause. Many who identify as climate activists are either full-time professionals drawing salaries from climate-related projects or individuals focused on building their own influence within the field, often with an eye on securing grants and establishing their own projects. This pursuit of funding and leadership can overshadow the true priority of climate action, which is empowering people through education and fostering broader participation in addressing the climate crisis. The focus seems to be on career advancement and project ownership rather than directly engaging and educating the public.