Pakistan is grappling with the devastating consequences of climate change, from unprecedented smog levels in Lahore to catastrophic floods that displace millions. While smog, with its record-breaking Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1,600 in Lahore has sparked a public health crisis, the gendered impacts of climate change become starkly apparent in flood-hit regions. Women bear the brunt of these crises, often forced to shoulder the dual burden of caregiving and securing dwindling resources. Displacement caused by floods frequently exposes women to unsafe environments, heightening risks of gender-based violence and limiting access to healthcare and education.
Global platforms like COP29 provide opportunities to address these challenges but often fall short of actionable solutions. While discussions on climate finance and gender inclusivity offer a glimmer of hope, previous unmet commitments cast doubt on the efficacy of new pledges. For Pakistan, where floods and environmental degradation continue to undermine progress, the need for equitable, sustainable measures has never been greater.
This article explores the gender-specific vulnerabilities exacerbated by Pakistan’s climate challenges and critically evaluates the global frameworks proposed to address them.
Climate change exacerbates gender inequalities and Pakistan’s women are among the most vulnerable in the face of environmental crises. The floods which displaced over 33 million people in 2022 disproportionately affected women, with 70% of the displaced population being women and children. In disaster-hit areas, women faced heightened risks of gender-based violence and struggled to access basic healthcare, including reproductive health services, as confirmed by a report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The impacts of floods extend beyond displacement. Women in rural Pakistan who make up over 60% of the agricultural workforce have seen their livelihoods collapse due to crop failures and soil degradation. The Independent High-Level Expert Group (IHLEG) on Climate Finance estimates that over $250 billion annually is needed by 2030 to address loss and damage in emerging markets, but funding gaps persist. Women, already earning significantly less than men are unable to recover without targeted financial aid or climate-resilient livelihood programs.
The recent smog crisis in Lahore adds another layer of vulnerability. Women, especially those from low-income households often work in informal sectors or as caregivers, exposing them and their dependents to hazardous air quality.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Lahore’s air reached concentrations over 40 times higher than safe limits, increasing risks of respiratory diseases. Without affordable access to air purifiers or adequate healthcare, women in densely populated urban areas face a growing health crisis.
Moreover, climate-induced resource scarcity has placed women in rural areas under immense strain. Reports indicate that women in Pakistan spend up to 35% of their daily time collecting water and fuel, tasks that have become increasingly difficult due to droughts and erratic weather patterns. A study by the UN Women highlighted how this burden has worsened malnutrition and reduced educational opportunities for girls, creating a vicious cycle of poverty. Despite these challenges, women are not mere victims of climate change and many have led grassroots initiatives to build climate resilience. For instance, women in Sindh’s flood-affected areas have organized community water management systems and rebuilt livelihoods through sustainable farming practices. However, their efforts often go unnoticed in national climate policies, which remain gender-blind.
COP29 has brought renewed focus to the role of finance in combating climate change, with a particular emphasis on addressing its gendered impacts. Discussions on gender-inclusive climate finance gained momentum following UN Women’s advocacy for allocating more resources to women and grassroots organizations. However, progress remains slow, and promises often fail to meet the urgency of the situation.
A stark example is the unmet $100 billion annual climate finance pledge, initially made during COP15 in 2009. The gap in delivering on this commitment has hindered the ability of developing nations like Pakistan to implement sustainable, gender-responsive solutions. The Independent High-Level Expert Group (IHLEG) estimates that $2.4 trillion annually is required globally to meet the Paris Agreement goals, yet only a fraction of this is being directed toward initiatives that benefit women. In 2022, less than 3% of climate-related development assistance included gender equality as a primary objective.
Pakistan’s challenges in accessing these funds are compounded by its lack of representation in global climate decision-making forums. For instance, women made up fewer than 15% of Pakistan’s official delegation at previous COPs. This imbalance reflects a broader issue: despite being among the most vulnerable, women are rarely involved in shaping the policies and financial mechanisms intended to protect them.
Moreover, the mechanisms proposed at COP29, such as the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, aim to reform outdated systems. Yet these discussions often overlook the realities of grassroots implementation. Women in rural Pakistan, for example, need access to microfinancing for climate-resilient agriculture or clean energy projects—initiatives that are rarely prioritized in broader financial frameworks. Case studies from Sindh and Balochistan have shown that when women receive direct financial support, they lead innovative solutions like community-based water management and disaster risk reduction.
Criticism of COP29 extends to its reliance on voluntary carbon markets which are gaining traction but often fail to address systemic inequities. The launch of Saudi Arabia’s carbon trading exchange, which includes projects in Pakistan, highlights this. While these markets can provide funding for environmental initiatives, their benefits seldom reach women or marginalized communities directly affected by climate change. Such approaches risk perpetuating inequalities unless paired with mandatory safeguards for gender inclusion.
Gender-responsive climate finance should go beyond numbers and include structural reforms that empower women to be active participants in mitigation and adaptation strategies. This requires transparency in funding allocations, stronger accountability mechanisms, and direct engagement with women-led organizations. Without these measures, global climate finance initiatives will continue to fall short of addressing the intersectional challenges women face in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities have exposed significant gaps in addressing the gendered impacts of environmental crises. Despite being one of the most climate-affected countries in the world, the integration of gender-sensitive policies remains limited. Women, who are often on the frontlines of both climate adaptation and its consequences, face systemic barriers in accessing resources, representation, and resilience-building measures.
Gaps and Challenges
Systemic Exclusion from Decision-Making
One of the most glaring challenges is the underrepresentation of women in climate governance. At national and provincial levels, women rarely hold key decision-making roles, limiting their influence on policies that directly affect them. A review of Pakistan’s participation in previous COP meetings revealed that female representation in delegations has consistently remained below 20%, a figure that reflects global trends but underscores local inequities. This exclusion perpetuates a cycle where climate policies fail to address the specific needs of women, particularly those in rural and marginalized communities.
Access to Financial Resources
Access to climate finance is another critical gap. Despite the acknowledgment at forums like COP29 that women must be at the center of climate solutions, funding mechanisms rarely prioritize their needs. The 2022 Pakistan floods highlighted this disparity; while billions in aid were pledged, only a fraction reached the grassroots level where women-led initiatives could have made the most impact.
Studies show that microfinancing for women in disaster-hit areas can significantly improve community resilience. Yet, Pakistan’s financial frameworks continue to lack gender-specific provisions, leaving women to rely on informal networks for support.
The Burden of Resource Scarcity
Climate-induced resource scarcity places an overwhelming burden on women. In many regions, women are responsible for collecting water, fuel, and food—resources that are increasingly scarce due to erratic weather patterns and environmental degradation. A recent study by UN Women revealed that women in rural Pakistan spend up to 4 hours daily on water collection, a task exacerbated by droughts and infrastructure collapse. This unpaid labor not only limits their economic participation but also poses health risks, including musculoskeletal disorders and increased exposure to polluted water sources.
Vulnerability to Climate-Induced Violence
The intersection of climate change and gender-based violence is a growing concern. Displacement caused by floods and droughts often forces families into temporary shelters where women are at higher risk of sexual harassment, trafficking, and domestic violence. Reports from Sindh and Balochistan following the 2022 floods documented a 20% increase in cases of gender-based violence in relief camps, highlighting the urgent need for safe spaces and gender-sensitive disaster management.
Health Impacts and Lack of Access to Services
The health consequences of climate change disproportionately affect women, particularly during disasters. Pregnant women in flood-hit areas often face complications due to the lack of medical facilities, clean water, and adequate nutrition. A survey conducted by UNFPA after the 2022 floods found that nearly 650,000 pregnant women in affected regions were in urgent need of maternal health services. Additionally, the rise in vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue during floods disproportionately impacts women, who often act as caregivers for sick family members without access to proper medical support.
Overlooked Potential of Women-Led Solutions
Despite these challenges, women in Pakistan have consistently demonstrated resilience and innovation in responding to climate crises. In Sindh, women have pioneered community-led initiatives such as rainwater harvesting systems and climate-resilient crop farming. However, these efforts are often unsupported by institutional policies or funding. Recognizing and scaling these solutions could significantly enhance Pakistan’s climate response.
Structural Barriers in Education and Awareness
Another critical gap lies in education and awareness. Climate literacy remains low across Pakistan but the lack of targeted programs for women further compounds the issue. Training women in climate adaptation strategies, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness could empower them to take proactive roles in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, such programs are limited in scope and funding.
Conclusion
Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift in how Pakistan approaches climate resilience. Gender-responsive planning must be institutionalized at all levels, from local governance to international negotiations. This includes ensuring that women are represented in policymaking forums, allocating climate finance to women-led initiatives, and creating safe spaces for women in disaster-hit areas.
Additionally, integrating climate adaptation strategies into national education and healthcare systems would provide long-term solutions to the systemic issues women face. As Pakistan navigates an uncertain climate future, its ability to adapt and build resilience depends largely on how it includes and empowers women. Without addressing these gaps, the impacts of climate change will continue to exacerbate existing inequalities, leaving women disproportionately vulnerable and overlooked.
