Climate-Induced Internal Migration in South Asia: Pakistan’s Growing Refugee Crisis

Climate-Induced Internal Migration in South Asia: Pakistan’s Growing Refugee Crisis

1. Introduction

 Climate-induced internal migration in south Asia have triggered large-scale internal migrations, with Pakistan being one of the most vulnerable countries. As natural disasters, rising temperatures, and water scarcity intensify, millions of Pakistanis face displacement, creating a growing internal refugee crisis. This issue not only challenges the country’s infrastructure but also raises concerns about urban planning, gender disparity, and long-term solutions.

 Climate Migration in Pakistan 2024

As of 2024, climate migration in Pakistan has reached critical levels. Here is some information about climate migration in Pakistan:

 UNDP report

A UNDP report from September 2024 predicts that without significant action, Pakistan could see a large number of climate migrants by 2050. The report was created in collaboration with experts and stakeholders in Pakistan to anticipate the scale and nature of this mobility.

 Lives in Dignity (LiD) Grant Facility

This project is working to address the impact of climate change and disasters on displacement-affected communities in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The project focuses on improving resilience and addressing long-term needs.

FCM Initiative

This initiative is analyzing data to understand migration dynamics and identify vulnerability hotspots. The goal is to develop a framework for anticipatory action to help at-risk communities.

 Climate change and mountain languages

Climate change has caught mountainous communities unaware, and the aftereffects have threatened the spoken languages of these communities. For example, Torwali is a language that is now spoken differently or not at all by youth who have migrated to cities.

 Climate change and wheat production

A study on climate change and wheat production in the Punjab province found that rising temperatures in January and November harm wheat production.

The World Migration Report 2024 from the United Nations states that more people are being displaced by force today than ever before. Flooding, droughts, and extreme weather events—amplified by climate change—are displacing people from rural areas to urban centers. Pakistan’s geography, characterized by its floodplains, coastal regions, and arid zones, makes it particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change.

 Key statistics from 2024 highlight:

Over 2 million people were displaced by floods in 2022-2023.

Karachi and other major cities are seeing an influx of climate migrants, leading to unplanned urbanization.

2. Internal Climate Migrants in South Asia

Pakistan is not alone in this struggle. South Asia as a whole is experiencing climate-induced internal migration on a large scale. Countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are witnessing similar patterns of movement.

Climate change is causing more people to migrate within South Asia and across borders, and the number is expected to increase significantly in the coming decades:

 Number of migrants

The World Bank estimates that South Asia could face 50 million climate refugees each year by 2050. The Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) estimates that 45 million people in India alone could be forced to migrate by 2050. 

Displaced people

In 2022, there were 32.6 million internal displacements associated with disasters, with Pakistan having the highest number at 8.2 million. 

Migrants and displaced people often face hostile situations and are not welcome by the local host population.

 Vulnerable people

Some people are more vulnerable to climate change and are unable to relocate due to a lack of resources. These people are sometimes referred to as “trapped people”

Key challenges faced by internal climate migrants across South Asia include:

 Loss of livelihoods due to failed crops and water scarcity.

Urban overcrowding in major cities like Karachi, Dhaka, and Mumbai.

Cross-border tensions as climate refugees move between neighboring countries.

3. Pakistan’s Refugee Crisis Due to Climate Change

Pakistan is facing a refugee crisis due to climate change, with millions of people displaced from their homes:

 Climate modeling

Climate modeling estimates that Pakistan will have nearly 2 million climate migrants by 2050.

2022 floods

In 2022, one third of Pakistan was submerged by flooding, displacing 8 million people.

Climate-induced migration

Climate change is causing increased migration and displacement across the country, leading to development issues like poverty, food insecurity, and water crisis.

Melting glaciers

The melting of glaciers in the Himalayas has impacted some of Pakistan’s important rivers.

Pakistan’s Climate Migrants Face Major Challenges

Climate change is caused by natural events and human activities, such as volcanic eruptions, burning fossil fuels, and cutting down forests.

Some ways to help climate migrants include:

i. Recognizing their qualifications

ii. Helping them integrate into the culture

iii. Facilitating movement of money back home

Improving measures to respond to the protection needs of people moving

Pakistan’s internal refugee crisis is worsening as climate-induced events such as floods, glacial melts, and heatwaves increase in frequency. Entire communities in regions like Sindh and Balochistan have been uprooted, forced to seek refuge in overburdened urban centers.

Key aspects of this crisis:

i. Mass migration from climate-affected rural regions to cities.

ii. Overburdening of urban infrastructure, causing housing shortages, inadequate health services, and insufficient sanitation.

iii. Food insecurity and the loss of agricultural land due to natural disasters.

4. Urban Planning and Climate Displacement in Pakistan

Pakistan’s urban planning strategies are not keeping pace with the rapid influx of climate migrants. Cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar face overcrowding and lack proper infrastructure to accommodate displaced populations.

n Urban planning challenges related to climate displacement include:

i. Inadequate housing for incoming migrants, leading to the rise of informal settlements and slums.

ii. Insufficient public services such as water, electricity, and healthcare.

iii. Environmental degradation in cities due to unsustainable urban expansion.

iv. Efforts to improve urban planning must focus on climate-resilient infrastructure that can accommodate the growing number of climate migrants.

5. Gender and Climate Migration in Pakistan

Climate migration disproportionately affects women in Pakistan. Women and girls in rural areas face heightened vulnerabilities when displaced by climate-induced disasters.

Key gender issues in climate migration:

a. Women, often involved in subsistence farming, lose their economic independence due to displacement.

b. Increased risk of gender-based violence in refugee camps and informal settlements.

c. Limited access to healthcare and education for displaced women and girls.

d. Addressing these gender disparities is crucial to creating inclusive climate migration policies.

6. Climate-Induced Migration Solutions for Pakistan

To tackle the growing crisis of climate-induced internal migration, Pakistan needs multi-faceted solutions that address the root causes of displacement, as well as the infrastructural, social, and economic needs of migrants.

Potential solutions include:

I. Strengthening disaster preparedness through early warning systems and sustainable land-use planning.

II. Developing climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable areas to reduce displacement.

III. Enhancing urban planning with climate migration in mind, ensuring cities can absorb incoming populations.

IV. Gender-sensitive migration policies to address the unique challenges faced by women and children.

V. Pakistan should also focus on international collaborations, leveraging global resources and expertise to tackle climate-induced migration effectively.

Some more suggested strategies to address climate migration include:

a) Improving household economic capacities

b) Enhancing the efficiency of resource consumption and production

c) Engaging local communities in planning and decision-making processes.

d) Cooperating with countries in the Global North for financial support and technology transfer

7. Conclusion

As climate change continues to reshape South Asia’s geography, Pakistan finds itself at the center of a growing internal migration crisis. The challenges posed by this issue—ranging from urban overcrowding to gender disparities—demand urgent and innovative solutions. Strengthening urban infrastructure, promoting climate-resilient development, and ensuring inclusive policies are essential to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced migration and protect Pakistan’s future.

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