This past summer and fall, Pakistan experienced unprecedented flooding, resulting in at least 1,500 deaths, 33 million affected people, and one third of the country being submerged. Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world, yet contributes less than 1% of global carbon emissions. Despite this, it is still among the top ten most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. The devastating floods of last year have instigated a nationwide dialogue in Pakistan regarding the need for increased resilience to climate change, as well as a global discourse on how to address it overall. South Asia as a whole finds itself on the frontline of climate change.
The United States has committed more than $200 million in aid to Pakistan, and an additional $9 billion was pledged in January at a donor’s conference in Geneva. Despite the world’s response, questions remain as to whether the pledged money will actually arrive, and if it does, whether it will be used responsibly.
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