fbpx
30 Nov 2023

Pakistan floods, the Climate Crisis and Islam

Pakistan floods, the Climate Crisis and Islam

Share

Pakistan floods, the Climate Crisis and Islam

One-third of Pakistan has been completely submerged by historic flooding, and at least 1,136 people have died.

This Monsoon season has shown Pakistan the heaviest rain in a decade. Floods have washed away homes, roads and crops, leaving a deadly trail. The government are pinning this on climate change.

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” the minister stated.

Officials estimate that more than 33 million Pakistanis – one in seven people – have been affected by the historic flooding.

Thousands of people living in the mountainous area have been ordered to evacuate. Even with helicopters it’s difficult to reach people who need help as flood waters made it difficult for the helicopter to land.

Locals are afraid and plead for aid as many remain trapped, with many having lost everything.


Scientists are trying to determine the extent to which global heating is to blame for the rainfall and floods, but analysis of the 2010 floods suggests it’s significant. But analysis of the previous worst flood in 2010 suggests it will be significant. Super floods are a cause of global heating, which drives fiercer rainfall [i].

According to one study, the 2010 super flood was caused by warmer oceans and warming in the Arctic, which impacted the jet stream, a high-level wind that circles the world. This caused prolonged rain in Pakistan and high temperatures in Russia that year.

Furthermore, a 2021 study found that each 1C increase in global temperature resulted in 5% more rain, intensifying and irregular south Asian monsoons.

The Climate Crisis & Islam

Climate change isn’t something new, but is a repercussion of industrialisation, cutting business costs and mistreating the world.

We’ve now reached an irreversible point for humanity in regard to climate change. An ominous countdown clock depicts the time we need to reach 0 emissions before it’s too late.

We’re not just seeing a change in climate in Pakistan, but all over the world.

countdown clock; courtesy of climate clock.world depicting the years, days, time and seconds left before we need to reach 0 emissions

Whilst it is a human obligation to look after the environment, regardless of faith, Islam places profound importance on the natural world. Over 200 verses of the Quran reference animals and six chapters are named after animals and insects [Surat 2, Al Baqarah, Surat 6, Al Anaam, Surat 16, Al Nahl, Surat 27, Al Naml, Surat 29, Al Ankabut and Surat 105, Al Fil].

Every individual and household has a measurable carbon footprint. Unless individuals take action to reduce their footprint, the harm caused to the environment will not reduce.

Under Jihad, environmental protection is covered by the Islamic concept, especially for individual Muslims and Muslim organisations.

Share this post: