THE record-breaking heatwave that has swept through Europe in recent weeks should not be dismissed as a distant weather event. Scientists have warned that human-caused climate change has now become significantly severe, with continued fossil fuel emissions playing a major role. For Pakistan, this is not someone else’s crisis, but another reminder of the climate risks that we are already facing. Happenings in Europe should not be viewed as someone else’s emergency.

Pakistan is experiencing increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, acce-lerating glacier melt, shrinking water resources and growing pressure on agriculture. What Europe is experiencing today serves as a reminder that climate change is no longer a threat; it is a reality.

As climate impacts intensify, calls are growing worldwide for major polluters and fossil fuel corporates to contribute more towards the costs of climate adaptation and recovery. Pakistan contributes only a tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but continues to face some of the gravest consequences of climate change. Climate justice demands that those most responsible for the crisis should shoulder a greater share of the response.

The European heatwave should serve as a call to action. Pakistan must continue strengthening heatwave preparedness, water conservation, climate-resilient infrastructure and the transition to cleaner sources of energy. At the same time, it should support international efforts that promote greater accountability for the environmental costs associated with fossil fuel emissions. The choices we make today will ensure wellbeing of future generations.

Maheen Zahra
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026