Pakistan needs robust support from the international community to build climate-resilient systems for industrial growth and to secure compensation for the massive losses and damages it has suffered due to devastating climate events such as floods, said Dr. Partha Sen, a renowned professor emeritus at the Delhi School of Economics.
Dr. Sen made this call during the 23rd Hamza Alavi Distinguished Lecture, which was hosted by the Irtiqa Institute of Social Sciences at Szabist on Monday. The lecture, titled “Climate Change in a Historical Setting and the Countries of the Global South: Where Are the Equity Considerations?”, addressed the disproportionate impacts of climate change on developing nations like Pakistan.
The Need for Global Support Amid Climate Crisis
Speaking via a live video link from India, Dr. Sen emphasized that Pakistan — despite being a minimal contributor to global carbon emissions — has been severely affected by climate emergencies such as recurring floods, coastal erosion, and the rapid melting of glaciers in the north. He argued that these catastrophic events are primarily driven by global warming caused by the industrial emissions of developed countries.
Dr. Sen stressed that Pakistan requires extraordinary support from the developed world to both address the immediate aftermath of these disasters and invest in climate-resilient industrial systems to ensure long-term sustainable growth. This, he explained, is necessary due to the disproportionate impacts that developing nations suffer from the climate crisis, despite their minimal carbon footprints.
Disappointment with COP-29 and Hope for Future Progress
Dr. Sen also voiced disappointment over the outcome of the recently concluded COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. He described the summit as a letdown for developing nations like Pakistan, who have been hit hardest by the climate emergency. However, he acknowledged that the UN climate discussions had started moving in the right direction, suggesting some hope for future progress in addressing the equity considerations for nations of the Global South.
The lecture highlighted the urgent need for global action that takes into account the historical responsibility of developed countries for the climate crisis and ensures that countries like Pakistan receive the financial and technical support required to adapt to the changing climate and recover from the damage caused by environmental disasters.
Conclusion
As Pakistan continues to face the devastating effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and the destruction of vital ecosystems, experts like Dr. Sen are calling for stronger international cooperation and equitable compensation. Developing countries, particularly in the Global South, are increasingly pressing for greater recognition of their vulnerability and the need for comprehensive support from the global community in addressing the impacts of the climate crisis.
