A Faithful Fight Against Climate Injustice

Nadeem Tanoli

Islamabad: A pioneering research paper from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) has called for a transformative shift in Pakistan’s climate policy—from a reactive disaster management approach to a proactive, rights-based framework grounded in Islamic environmental ethics and constitutional principles.

Authored by Aroosa Adil, a student of Sharia and Law, the paper titled “Climate Justice in Pakistan: Bridging Human Rights and Environmental Governance” makes a compelling case for embedding Islamic teachings and fundamental rights into the heart of climate governance. Adil argues that climate justice in Pakistan is not only a legal necessity but also a moral and religious responsibility.

Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Recurring floods, heatwaves, and droughts disproportionately impact its poorest and most marginalized communities. “Climate change is not merely an environmental issue—it is a human rights crisis,” Adil asserts.

Her research draws on the Qur’anic principles of khalifa (stewardship) and prohibition of fasad (corruption) on Earth, presenting them as foundational to a sustainable and ethical climate response. These values, she argues, align with contemporary global sustainability efforts and offer an indigenous framework for climate justice.

The study also references landmark judicial rulings—Shehla Zia v. WAPDA and Asghar Leghari v. Federation of Pakistan—that have recognized environmental protection as part of the constitutional right to life. The latter led to the creation of the Climate Change Commission, further embedding the environment within Pakistan’s human rights discourse.

However, the research identifies serious structural gaps: weak environmental institutions, fragmented governance, inadequate public awareness, and a lack of gender-responsive adaptation measures. These systemic challenges, Adil contends, undermine Pakistan’s ability to respond effectively to the escalating climate crisis.

To address these shortcomings, the paper recommends:

A Climate Justice Act to consolidate constitutional rights and environmental obligations under a unified legal framework;

Strengthening environmental tribunals to adjudicate climate cases through a human rights lens;

Climate budgeting and green financing to ensure ecological accountability in fiscal planning;

National climate literacy campaigns to build informed citizen participation;

Women-led adaptation models to empower grassroots resilience;

Adoption of global best practices, such as India’s National Green Tribunal and the Dutch Urgenda ruling, which held governments accountable for climate inaction.

Adil concludes that achieving meaningful climate justice in Pakistan demands a paradigm shift—one that redefines governance at the intersection of faith, law, and human dignity. She urges policymakers, religious scholars, civil society, and legal institutions to champion an inclusive, rights-based, and ethically grounded climate policy to secure a livable future for generations to come.