ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday called for urgent international action to confront climate change, describing the environmental crisis as a battle for humanity and warning that its consequences were already devastating millions of lives across the globe.
Message on World Environment Day
In a message issued to mark World Environment Day, Bilawal said the increasing frequency of floods, droughts, heatwaves and water shortages underscored the growing severity of a crisis that could no longer be viewed as a future threat. "Climate change is not a debate or a prediction for countless families; it is the loss of a home, a livelihood, a harvest and, in many cases, a loved one," he said in a statement issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House.
Pakistan's Vulnerability
He noted that Pakistan remained among the countries most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing only a fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, and renewed his call for climate justice at the international level. Bilawal argued that developing nations were bearing a disproportionate share of the burden created by emissions from industrialised countries, with millions paying the price through lost livelihoods, economic hardship and increased exposure to climate-related disasters.
Call for Fair Global Response
Calling for a fair and equitable global response, he said the international community must recognise the needs of countries on the frontline of the climate crisis and ensure that adequate support is available for adaptation, resilience and sustainable development.
PPP's Commitment to Environment
The PPP chairman also highlighted his party's longstanding commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development, paying tribute to former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto for advocating policies that linked social progress with responsible stewardship of natural resources. Reaffirming the party's commitment to climate resilience, renewable energy and environmental conservation, Bilawal said sustainable development should remain at the heart of policymaking to safeguard future generations.
"The Earth is a trust we hold for future generations," he said, urging governments, institutions and citizens to work collectively to build a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
Context of World Environment Day
His remarks came as governments, environmental organisations and civil society groups around the world marked World Environment Day amid growing concern over the accelerating impacts of climate change. For Pakistan, which has experienced devastating floods, extreme temperatures and increasing water stress in recent years, the issue remains one of the country's most pressing long-term challenges.
