Islamic Relief Canada’s New Study Reveals the Disproportionate Impact of the Climate Crisis on Women in Pakistan

(Toronto, ON) – As the first anniversary of the 2022 Pakistan floods approaches, Islamic Relief Canada releases a new research study, “Climate Crisis in Pakistan: Voices from the Ground”. The report highlights the voices of women in Pakistan, revealing the unique impacts of climate change on their livelihoods and well-being, as seasonal changes, deforestation, extreme weather, natural disasters, and water scarcity intensify.

As the fifth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, Pakistan is suffering immense consequences of climate change, despite producing less than 1% of the world’s carbon footprint. Unfortunately, in any crisis or disaster, it is often women and girls who bear a disproportionate burden — and climate-induced disasters are no exception. Moreover, in Pakistan, women are overrepresented in agricultural, livestock and fishing sectors – and are therefore even more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The report features compelling personal stories from women, including:

“There used to be four seasons that were predictable and timely, arriving at similar times every year. Now there are only two seasons: summer and winter. There’s no spring anymore — and because of this, the vegetables are being scorched early on due to the unexpected heat.” – Widowed mother in Patikka, Azad Jammu Kashmir.

“We have a very big problem with water. So many people left the community because there wasn’t enough water. This Islamic Relief drip irrigation system is a blessing to conserve our water and keep our livelihoods.” – Female farmer near Quetta, Balochistan.

The report provides examples of the ways in which Islamic Relief is countering these impacts, in taking a climate-adaptive approach to developing sustainable livelihoods and communities, while keeping women at the forefront.

Islamic Relief Canada CEO Usama Khan shares, “As Pakistan braces for another summer, now more than ever, we need our political leaders to make bold and strategic decisions to be proactive in supporting long-term, sustainable initiatives. This proactiveness and preparedness is critical to preventing large-scale impact of further climate-induced disasters.”

To access the full report, click here. To schedule interviews, or for any media requests, please contact Aisha Saleem, Communications Coordinator, at media@islamicreliefcanadaca or 647-668-7996.

About Islamic Relief Canada
Islamic Relief Canada is a registered charity in Canada and Canada’s largest Muslim NGO working in more than 40 countries to provide humanitarian relief and build resilient, prosperous communities. Visit www.islamicrelief.ca for more information.