Climate Tribunal in Islamabad Demands Urgent Action on Crisis
Islamabad : Hundreds of students, civil society members, lawyers, and citizens from diverse walks of life gathered for Maholiati Sathh, a transformative climate tribunal uniting voices for systemic change and climate justice. This groundbreaking event served as a platform for participants to confront the root causes of Pakistan’s escalating climate crisis and present collective demands for immediate action.
The Sathh emphasized that addressing climate change requires dismantling exploitative systems that prioritize profit over people and the environment. Participants made it clear that true climate justice must go beyond individual responsibility, holding governments, corporations, and global powers accountable for their actions.PM’s climate aide, Belarusian Minister meet, agree to work for environmental sustainability, climate resilience
The tribunal culminated in powerful declarations, which also serve as demands for urgent implementation. Key among these were:
• The need for systemic change, with capitalism identified as the core driver of environmental degradation. Participants demanded the adoption of policies that ensure ecological balance and community welfare over corporate profits.
• A call for international debt abolition, with 70% of Pakistan’s GDP currently allocated to debt repayment. Participants highlighted the importance of canceling debt to free resources for climate-resilient infrastructure and local initiatives.
• Reparations for loss and damage caused by the disproportionate emissions of industrialized nations, with a focus on compensating the Global South for its environmental and social losses.
• Legal recognition of the Indus River as a living entity with rights to flow freely, alongside an immediate halt to mega-dam projects that disrupt ecosystems and displace communities.
• A nationwide transition to renewable public transport systems to combat urban air pollution, reduce dependency on fossil fuels, and make transport accessible to all citizens.
• Empowerment of local communities through the integration of indigenous knowledge into climate policies and transparent allocation of climate funds directly to grassroots projects.
Participants highlighted the urgency of these measures, with a student activist Saeed Ghurmani stating, “We are the generation paying the price for decisions made without our consent. The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it’s a matter of justice.” A political worker Sanaa’I Muhammad stated, “It is crucial to enshrine the rights of our rivers, forests, and mountains into law to protect them for future generations.”
The Sathh showcased solidarity among various groups and sectors, demonstrating the strength of collective action in addressing the climate crisis. Participants pledged to continue mobilizing their communities to push for the implementation of these demands at both local and international levels.
Maholiati Sathh represents a growing movement for climate justice in Pakistan, driven by the voices of indigenous communities, students, and progressive advocates who recognize that systemic change is essential to secure a sustainable future.
