The world is in a state of disrepair and chaos at this juncture: wars, unprecedented heatwaves etc. Where is humanity heading? Is it heading to utter decimation? Well, everything sounds uncertain.
On the one hand it is the wars in two continents: Russia-Ukraine and US-Israel-Iran, to be precise and on the other hand, it is the devastating climatic apocalypse in the entire world. Europe and the USA are making headlines these days for sweltering and sizzling weather which has wreaked havoc in the last couple of weeks. Survival of humanity seems to be a colossal question in the wake of pollution lashing out intolerable climatic apocalypse.
Wars bring about enormous greenhouse gas emissions besides ecosystem destruction. Burning of fossil fuels through bombing the enemies and launching missiles alongside troops transportation is the result of unleashing of hazardous gases detrimental to human life and the mother earth simultaneously. There is no need to answer what adverse impact the burning and bombarded oil refineries and oil depots cause on the people living in the vicinity. Wars are underway and there seems no end in sight, at least in the not-too-distant future.
It is a well-known fact that 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions are being contributed by militaries and 2.5% of total global CO₂ emissions are being chipped in by the aviation sector. So, would it be right to say that the major polluters are indifferent to the climatic crisis underway?
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997 for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The primary objective of the Kyoto Protocol was to regulate greenhouse gases namely Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N₂O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) as well as Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The result of this treaty is not encouraging at all. Later, the much-touted the Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in Paris in 2015 to stem the global average temperature to below 2oC or to restrain temperature increase to 1.5oC. The result of the Paris Agreement is not encouraging at all either.
Millions if not billions of citizens around the globe are undergoing through agony, anguish, torment and misery by virtue of the climate crisis.
Pakistan is one of the worst-hit victims of the climatic apocalypse. The entire world could never ever overlook the decimation of the super floods of 2010 and 2022. The former US President, Joe Biden, in his speech during his presidency admitted that one-third Pakistan was under water in 2022. Monsoon rains triggered devastating landslides and catastrophic floods impacting over 30 million people with around 1700 fatalities in Pakistan in 2022 causing damages worth US$40 billion to the rickety economy.
One of the worst in the history of Pakistan, super floods of 2010 agonized over 20 million Pakistanis causing around US$10 billion loss to the economy of the country.
When it comes to air quality in Pakistan, it has been reported that Pakistan was the world’s smoggiest country in 2025 with concentrations of hazardous fine particles known as PM2.5 up to 13 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) recommended level.
These days, Europe and the USA are in the clutches of calamitous heatwave bringing misery to millions and causing fatalities owing to unpredictable and unprecedented situation barely witnessed in decades. Forecasters warn of further extreme temperatures in the days to come. Western Europe is probably the worst-hit. France incurred temperatures peaking 41C in Paris on 24 June placing half the nation under a red heat alert. The UK, Germany, Spain and other western European countries are bracing for more searing temperatures. Weather-related death toll in Europe is unprecedented. The USA is bearing the brunt of heatwave which is being regarded as disastrous.
It is time to take drastic action sooner rather than later.