Climate Justice

Climate justice in Pakistan is an urgent concern, as the country faces severe climate impacts while contributing minimally to global emissions. Extreme weather events—such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves—disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, particularly women, children, and indigenous groups. Addressing the intersection of climate change and human rights is crucial to ensuring equitable access to resources for adaptation and resilience.

At the Centre for Human Rights, we are committed to building a sustainable and just future by tackling climate inequality, advocating for climate rights, and ensuring effective disaster preparedness and response. Our work focuses on four key areas that address the most pressing climate and social challenges, guiding efforts to create lasting change for at-risk communities.

By integrating climate justice into broader human rights and governance frameworks, we aim to drive systemic change, strengthen policy responses, and promote accountability in climate action at national and global levels.

Climate Change Impact

Pakistan is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, facing both slow-onset and sudden climate events such as floods, droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme temperatures. Ranked as the fifth-most climate-vulnerable country in the 2020 Global Climate Risk Index, its rapidly growing population of over 251 million faces increasing risks of socio-economic instability. Climate change is not only accelerating displacement but also contributing to rising poverty, food insecurity, and resource scarcity. These cascading effects strain healthcare systems, disrupt education, exacerbate crime rates, and heighten vulnerabilities for marginalized communities, particularly women and children.

Our work focuses on researching these interconnected challenges, advocating for policy reforms, and developing resilience-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities.

Migration and Displacement

Migration and displacement in Pakistan are complex issues shaped by a mix of economic, environmental, and political factors. As a country with a history of both internal and cross-border migration, Pakistan has seen significant movements of people within and across its borders. Internally, migration often occurs from rural to urban areas, driven by the search for better economic opportunities, education, and healthcare. However, environmental factors, particularly climate change, are increasingly contributing to displacement. Floods, droughts, and other climate-related disasters have forced many communities to relocate, exacerbating vulnerabilities, especially among women, children, and marginalized groups.

Human Rights Clinic on Climate Displacement, Risks and Vulnerabilities of Women and Girls (Ongoing)

The clinic aims to document the unique challenges that women and girls face due to climate displacement, focusing on their rights, protection needs, and vulnerabilities, and empower affected communities through legal advocacy, research, and policy development. Our clinic students are engaged in a variety of practical and academic activities that contribute to the protection and promotion of the rights of displaced women and girls, including research and documentation, policy analysis and advocacy.

Impact of the 2022 Floods on Criminal Justice in Pakistan

The 2022 floods in Pakistan triggered one of the worst humanitarian crises in the country’s history, displacing millions and severely disrupting socio-economic structures. With nearly 33 million people affected and approximately one-third of the country submerged, the disaster deepened existing vulnerabilities, particularly among marginalized communities. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) declared 81 districts as calamity-hit, with massive damage to infrastructure—over 3,100 km of roads destroyed, nearly a million livestock lost, and more than two million acres of crops affected. The resulting economic strain, rising inflation, and food insecurity further exacerbated social inequalities and heightened security risks.

Beyond the immediate devastation, the floods also contributed to a rise in crime, particularly gender-based violence (GBV), domestic violence, and resource-driven offenses. Displacement, economic distress, and weakened institutional response created conditions for increased criminal activity, with law enforcement struggling to maintain security amid damaged infrastructure and overstretched resources.

Our research explored the link between climate-induced disasters and crime, assessing how socio-economic vulnerabilities and institutional challenges shape crime trends in flood-affected areas. In particular, we have examined the surge in GBV and domestic violence in relief camps, the impact of socio-economic stressors on crime, and the challenges law enforcement agencies face in maintaining security and ensuring justice for victims.

Related Publications

Air Quality Report

Global Climate Justice

Local Action, Global Impact

We work across Pakistan, driving legal reform, advocacy, and policy change to protect human rights and empower communities.