Planet in danger

There are a few hard truths the world can no longer ignore. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that without immediate and drastic emissions cuts, global temperatures are on track to rise by a catastrophic 3.2 C by 2100. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the past decade (2015–2024) has been the warmest on record. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 identifies environmental risks as half of the top 10 global concerns, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and large-scale Earth system changes topping the list. To push authorities to act, people around the world mark Earth Day each year on April 22. The theme this year, ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, urged collective action and a unified push towards renewable energy.

But are our efforts to combat global warming proportionate to the scale of the crisis? Sadly, the answer remains no. A report released by Oxfam in late 2024 highlights the stark inequality in emissions: the 50 wealthiest billionaires emit more carbon in under three hours – primarily from private jets – than the average Briton does over an entire lifetime. Their annual emissions from private jets and yachts equal 300 and 860 years’ worth of emissions from an average person, respectively. Most of these billionaires hail from the wealthiest nations – the same nations most responsible for historic and ongoing pollution. Their profit-driven ventures often ignore environmental sustainability, accelerating ecological degradation. Unchecked development has devastated ecosystems worldwide. Nature, which has absorbed 54 per cent of human CO2 emissions over the past decade, is under siege. Human activities – including unsustainable food production, energy use and infrastructure development – are pushing an estimated 80 per cent of threatened species toward extinction.

Pakistan is no exception. Rampant deforestation to make way for residential complexes continues unchecked. While individuals must take responsibility for their surroundings, the greater burden lies with authorities. If public spaces lack basic facilities like garbage bins, we cannot expect most people to carry their waste home. Just days ago, the Lahore High Court highlighted another critical issue: water wastage. In affluent neighbourhoods, as much as 400 litres of water are wasted washing a single car. In Karachi, the broken roads have increased reliance on plastic, with even the smallest delivery orders wrapped in excessive packaging for protection. Rather than enacting haphazard bans on plastic, the government should address root causes and offer viable alternatives. This is not to say all is bleak. Pakistan’s transition towards green energy is a welcome development. But much more needs to be done to phase out fossil fuels. The rising import of solar panels alone will not spark a green revolution. Policymakers must create incentives to encourage solar adoption, not disincentivise it. For instance, reducing the power buyback rate could deter households from switching to solar energy. The time for half-measures is over. Drastic, meaningful changes are urgently needed to ensure that Earth remains livable for future generations.