The Cost of a Crisis We Didn’t Cause: Climate, Health & Pakistan

In recent years, Pakistan has found itself at the frontline of a crisis it didn’t create—yet one it is forced to endure. Climate change is no longer a distant threat on the horizon. It’s here, unfolding in real-time, disrupting lives, displacing communities, and—most critically—undermining public health.

From scorching heatwaves in Karachi to devastating floods across Sindh and Punjab, Pakistan has been hit hard by extreme weather events—more frequent, more intense, and increasingly deadly. These disasters often dominate headlines with images of flooded homes and dried-up fields. But beyond the visible damage lies a quieter crisis: more people falling sick, rising malnutrition, growing mental health struggles, and a healthcare system stretched thin trying to keep up.

Pakistan contributes less than 1% to the world’s carbon emissions, yet we’re among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. The atmospheric buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the greatest contributor to climate change. Since 1996, we’ve faced over 140 extreme weather events—cyclones, heatwaves, glacial lake outburst floods, you name it. And each year it left the country with billions in damages. The death toll isn’t just a number—it’s someone’s parent, someone’s child, someone’s home washed away.

In the northern mountains, glaciers that once stood firm for centuries are melting. The Hindu Kush—often called “the third pole”—is rapidly changing. Melting ice is rushing into the Indus River; Pakistan’s lifeline, which irrigates 90% of our agricultural land, but now it’s becoming a source of deadly floods.

Climate change isn’t just melting glaciers or bringing longer summers—it’s quietly making us sick. And in Pakistan, the impact is becoming harder to ignore.

Take our air, for example. Hotter days and stickier nights don’t just leave us sweating—they trap pollutants and fine dust particles in the air we breathe. These tiny troublemakers called particulate matter (PM) can sneak into our lungs, and even our brains, where they cause inflammation and long-term damage. Shockingly, people living in polluted areas are up to 35 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. And stroke—already a top killer in Pakistan—is strongly linked to air pollution, especially in our busy cities.

Then there’s the water. After floods or heavy rains, clean water becomes a luxury. Dirty water brings a wave of illnesses like typhoid, dengue, diarrhea, and more. Believe it or not, 80% of the diseases we deal with in Pakistan come from contaminated water—and they cause a third of all deaths. Diseases like Hepatitis A and E also spike, especially where sanitation is poor. Back in 2005, after the earthquake, over a thousand Hepatitis E cases were recorded in just one outbreak.

Photograph courtesy Foreign Policy

And let's not forget the mosquitoes. Warmer, wetter weather gives them a perfect breeding ground. From malaria to dengue and chikungunya, these illnesses have been on the rise—especially during monsoon season. The 2011 dengue outbreak saw 20,000+ cases and over 300 deaths, mainly in Punjab. Even Zika, once only heard about in news from abroad, is becoming a concern here too.

But not all effects of climate change stay hidden. Many are literally written on our skin. Floodwaters and humidity trigger spikes in eye infections like conjunctivitis, and skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, which worsen with heat, dust, pollen, and pollution.

Amidst the bouts of climate change, agriculture becomes one of the first casualty for Pakistan. Pakistan’s lifeline has always been its land. Almost half the population relies on agriculture—not just for income, but for the food on their tables. But this dependence has become a major vulnerability. Most farmland depends on rainfall, and in a country already facing severe water scarcity, even slight changes in weather patterns can spell disaster.

In 2022, temperatures soared past 50°C in some areas, and when the rains came, they came with fury. For countless farmers, months of hard work vanished overnight. But the destruction didn’t stop there. As the waters receded, they left behind ruined crops, contaminated water, and a growing health crisis.

Food shortages followed, prices soared, and once again, the poorest were hit the hardest.

What makes these climate events worse is the lack of infrastructure to handle them. Pakistan’s ability to predict and prepare for extreme weather is limited. The 2022 floods, for example, were devastating not only because of the volume of water but because there were no adequate early warning systems, no disaster-proof shelters, and no coordinated emergency response.

Nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s districts were underwater. Crops were lost. Entire villages disappeared. Over 33 million people were affected, and millions displaced—many with nowhere to go but temporary camps, where disease spreads faster than help arrives.

Photograph courtesy UNICEF

In these relief camps, families grappled with a new set of threats: diarrhea, skin infections, eye diseases—all spreading fast in crowded spaces with limited clean water and sanitation. Over 1,400 health facilities were damaged or destroyed, leaving millions without medical support. Pregnant women—nearly 73,000 of them—had little to no access to care as they prepared to give birth amidst chaos.

An estimated 40% of Pakistan’s population now lives under the constant shadow of climate-induced disasters.

For them, this is not a future threat—it is a daily reality.

This health crisis is breaking the back of a nation already gasping for breath. Even before the floods, Pakistan’s economy was hanging by a thread—now, it’s fighting for survival. Fields are gone, roads have vanished, and the healthcare system is stretched to its limits.

The result?

A storm of suffering that hits hardest where it hurts most: the people.

Yes, there are brave efforts on the ground—local heroes, NGOs, and international teams are stepping up with food, makeshift shelters, and mobile clinics. But the scale of devastation is just too big.

For every family that gets help, there are so many more still waiting. Some are drinking from floodwater, trying to treat fevers with whatever they have at hand. It’s not just a disaster—it’s survival, day by day.

It’s important to remember—Pakistan is not the cause of this crisis. From 1750 to 2020, over half of global carbon emissions were the result of actions from just four countries: the United States, China, Russia, and Germany. As the largest contributors to climate change, wealthier nations must step up and provide financial support to help countries like Pakistan build climate-resilient infrastructure before the next disaster strikes.

However, financial support alone isn’t enough. We need global support, local leadership, and public awareness. Climate justice can’t just be a catchphrase. It must mean real investment in building resilient systems—for health, food, water, and housing.

We need smarter, sustainable choices at home. In cities, separate vehicles for each family member add to traffic and emissions. Embracing shared transport and clean energy can help cut our carbon footprint. Sustainable urban planning, better public transport, and promoting walking, cycling, and tree planting aren’t just good for the planet—they are essential for healthier lives!

The climate crisis isn’t just a global problem—it’s a survival challenge for Pakistan! While the world must pay its climate debt, real change starts at home: fewer cars, smarter cities, and greener choices today mean a healthier, safer Pakistan tomorrow.

Because the next disaster won’t ask who caused the crisis—it will drown us all the same!

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For further reading and references, see the list below:

• Ali, M., Farhat, S. M., Saeed, R. F., Amraiz, D., Mehmood, S., & Akbar, S. (2021). Climate Beast: A Potential Threat for Repercussions of Disease Status in Pakistan. Reviews on Environmental Health.

• Babar, M. S., Tazyeen, S., Khan, H., Tsagkaris, C., Essar, M. Y., & Ahmad, S. (2021). Impact of Climate Change on Health in Karachi, Pakistan. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 1, 100013.

• Malik, S. M., Awan, H., & Khan, N. (2012). Mapping Vulnerability to Climate Change and Its Repercussions on Human Health in Pakistan. Globalization and Health, 8, Article 31.

• Riaz, K., Ahmad, M., Gul, S., Hamza, M., & Khan, M. (2022). Climate change and its implications on health and the healthcare system: A perspective from Pakistan. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 81, 104390.

• Somani, R. (2023). Global Warming in Pakistan and Its Impact on Public Health as Viewed Through a Health Equity Lens. International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services, 53(2), 154–157

• Image 1 courtesy Shutterstock.

• Image 4 courtesy Stephan Schmitz.