Climate change is not an isolated phenomenon; it is deeply rooted in the legacy of colonialism. The Global South continues to bear the brunt of a climate crisis largely created by the Global North. Pakistan, with its history of British colonial exploitation, is a prime example of how colonial legacies continue to shape environmental vulnerabilities. The catastrophic floods that submerged one-third of the country in 2022 reveal not only the severity of the climate crisis but also the enduring impacts of climate colonialism.

Introduction: the weight of a nation under water

In 2022, Pakistan faced unprecedented floods, with torrential monsoon rains submerging vast parts of the country. The Indus River overflowed, displacing over 33 million people and causing billions of dollars in damage to homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land. The floods exacerbated already existing food insecurity and unemployment, particularly for farmers who lost crops and livestock. The standing water not only devastated livelihoods but also posed ongoing threats of disease and hunger.

Sitting thousands of kilometers away in Germany, I watched the news in disbelief. The headlines described a country submerged, and for a moment, it felt as though I too was drowning in the overwhelming emotions of grief, helplessness, and confusion. Despite being geographically distant, I couldn’t escape the floodwaters’ emotional toll. As the days passed, I frantically tried to contact my family in Pakistan, growing increasingly anxious as communication lines remained silent. It wasn’t until days later that I finally received confirmation: my ancestral home had been flooded, its inhabitants forced to relocate, and the crops and livestock on our land destroyed.

This personal experience served as a gateway to a deeper understanding of how historical forces, such as colonialism, intersect with the contemporary climate crisis. The floods were not just a natural disaster; they were a manifestation of centuries-old patterns of exploitation, dominance, and environmental degradation rooted in British colonialism. As I began to reflect on these connections, it became clear that the floods were part of a larger story—a story of how colonialism, climate change, and environmental injustice are intricately linked.

Colonialism and the environmental crisis

The historical process of colonialism is intrinsically linked to today’s climate crisis. Colonial powers, particularly the British Empire, systematically exploited the natural resources of their colonies to fuel the industrial revolution. This exploitation created the conditions for the large-scale environmental degradation that continues to affect former colonies like Pakistan today. By stripping the land of its resources and imposing unsustainable agricultural and industrial practices, colonial powers not only disrupted local ecosystems but also laid the groundwork for the climate crisis.

The British Empire's transformation of energy production, particularly with the shift to coal during the Industrial Revolution, marked the beginning of the modern climate crisis. This shift fundamentally altered the way societies interacted with the environment, leading to increased carbon emissions and environmental degradation. As Corey Ross (2014) notes, the discovery of petroleum and the rise of multinational corporations further entrenched these exploitative dynamics, making colonial extraction a global phenomenon with lasting impacts.

In addition to resource extraction, colonial practices fundamentally altered local ecosystems. Colonial powers imposed monoculture farming, deforestation, and large-scale infrastructure projects that disrupted traditional land-use practices. These changes had devastating environmental consequences, particularly in regions like the Indian subcontinent, where centuries-old systems of water management and sustainable agriculture were replaced by colonial infrastructure designed to serve imperial interests.

For instance, the British implemented extensive irrigation schemes in the Punjab region of what is now Pakistan, diverting rivers and altering natural water flows to maximize agricultural output. These changes not only degraded the environment but also contributed to long-term ecological instability, making the region more vulnerable to extreme weather events like floods. As Eduardo Galeano once observed, "Nature was a fierce beast that had to be tamed and punished" to serve the needs of colonial economies (Voskoboynik, 2018).

The impact of climate colonialism on Pakistan

The concept of climate colonialism refers to the ways in which the historical exploitation of the Global South continues to shape contemporary environmental vulnerabilities. In the case of Pakistan, colonial policies have left a lasting legacy of environmental mismanagement and social inequality, both of which exacerbate the impacts of climate change. The 2022 floods are a stark example of how climate colonialism manifests in the modern world.

Pakistan's historical experience of colonialism has left the country with deeply entrenched patterns of resource extraction and environmental degradation. The British Empire’s focus on maximizing agricultural output in the Punjab region, for example, created a system of intensive irrigation that has contributed to long-term water shortages and increased flood risk. Today, these colonial-era infrastructure projects continue to exacerbate the effects of climate change, making Pakistan more vulnerable to extreme weather events.

Despite contributing less than 1% of global carbon emissions, Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change. The floods of 2022 were a direct consequence of rising global temperatures, which have led to more intense monsoon seasons. Warmer air holds more moisture, resulting in heavier rainfall, while the melting of Himalayan glaciers due to global warming has further increased the risk of flooding in the region. These changes are directly linked to the actions of the Global North, whose industrial activities have contributed the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions over the past two centuries (Sachs, 2022).

The disproportionate impact of climate change on Pakistan is a clear example of the unequal exchange at the heart of climate colonialism. While the Global North has reaped the benefits of industrialization and economic growth, the Global South has been left to bear the environmental and social costs. As Sultana (2022) notes, climate colonialism is not just a historical phenomenon—it is an ongoing process in which the ecological burdens of the Global North are outsourced to the Global South, perpetuating systems of exploitation and inequality.

The colonial hangover: environmental mismanagement and social inequality

The legacy of British colonialism in Pakistan is not only environmental but also social and political. Colonial powers imposed systems of governance that concentrated power in the hands of local elites, a dynamic that continues to shape Pakistan’s political landscape today. This "colonial hangover" has left Pakistan with a deeply unequal society in which the most vulnerable are often left to bear the brunt of environmental disasters.

In the context of the 2022 floods, this legacy was evident in the state’s inability to provide adequate emergency services or support for the millions of people displaced by the floods. The political elites who inherited the colonial state’s power structures have continued to prioritize the interests of the wealthy over those of the poor and marginalized, leaving large segments of the population vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The floods also highlighted the ways in which colonial-era infrastructure projects have exacerbated environmental risks. The extensive network of dams, barrages, and canals built by the British to control water flow and maximize agricultural output has contributed to the flooding of low-lying areas in Pakistan. These colonial-era projects were designed to serve the economic interests of the empire with little regard for the long-term environmental consequences.

Today, Pakistan’s political elites continue to rely on these outdated and unsustainable systems of water management, perpetuating the environmental degradation that began under colonial rule. This blind adherence to colonial-era infrastructure is what Sultana (2022) refers to as "mega-projectivitus"—a condition in which governments prioritize large-scale infrastructure projects over more sustainable, community-based approaches to environmental management.

Climate justice and reparations: a path forward

In the aftermath of the 2022 floods, it is clear that Pakistan cannot address the climate crisis on its own. The scale of the disaster, coupled with the country’s limited resources, makes international support essential. However, this support must go beyond temporary aid or humanitarian relief—it must include reparations for the historical and ongoing injustices of climate colonialism.

Climate justice requires that the countries most responsible for climate change—the wealthy nations of the Global North—take responsibility for the damage they have caused. This includes not only reducing their carbon emissions but also providing financial and technical support to countries like Pakistan that are disproportionately affected by climate change. As Táíwò (2022) argues, reparations should be seen as a forward-looking solution that addresses the systemic inequalities created by centuries of colonialism and capitalist expansion.

At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), Pakistan called for the establishment of a Loss and Damage Finance Facility to compensate countries like Pakistan for the impacts of climate change. This call for reparations is part of a broader movement for climate justice that seeks to hold the Global North accountable for the environmental and social costs of their actions.

As the Global Climate Risk Index indicates, Pakistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing minimally to global emissions. The floods of 2022 were a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change in the way the world approaches climate governance. Wealthier nations must not only acknowledge their historical responsibility for climate change but also take concrete steps to address the global inequalities that perpetuate the crisis.

Conclusion: a nation still under water

The 2022 floods in Pakistan serve as a devastating reminder of the ongoing legacy of climate colonialism. The country’s vulnerability to climate change is not simply the result of geographical factors or poor governance—it is the direct consequence of centuries of colonial exploitation and environmental mismanagement. The floods revealed the deep connections between colonialism and the climate crisis, showing how historical patterns of domination and resource extraction continue to shape the present.

The international community must move beyond temporary aid and humanitarian relief to address the root causes of climate vulnerability in countries like Pakistan. Climate justice demands that the Global North take responsibility for the damage it has caused and provide reparations to the countries most affected by climate change. Only by acknowledging and addressing the colonial roots of the climate crisis can we hope to build a more just and sustainable future.

In Urdu, the word kal signifies both "yesterday" and "tomorrow," symbolizing a continuum between the past and the future. This dual meaning encapsulates the reality of Pakistan’s climate crisis, where the environmental degradation of yesterday—rooted in colonial exploitation—continues to influence the climate challenges of today and tomorrow. The colonial past is not merely a distant memory; it is an ongoing force that shapes present vulnerabilities and future risks. Addressing these challenges necessitates acknowledging the enduring influence of colonialism on current environmental crises. The pressing question remains: will the Global North accept responsibility for its role in creating these crises, thereby paving the way for a more equitable future? Or will countries like Pakistan continue to bear the burden of the unresolved legacy of climate colonialism, repeating the mistakes of the past?