In the arena of climate action, where policies often collide with politics and urgency encounters bureaucracy, a new issue has emerged in the form of climate change. As awareness spreads regarding its impact, people, groups, organizations, and nations focus on the law as a tool for environmental justice and accountability. A matter that once failed to gain recognition is slowly gaining momentum in the form of climate change litigation, which is expected to bring about significant changes and hold accountable those contributing to deteriorating climate conditions. Climate change poses a looming threat to humanity; thus, the need to safeguard the environment has become a fundamental human rights issue, as climate change and human rights are intertwined. As of December 2022, 2,180 climate-related cases had been filed in 65 jurisdictions, including international and regional courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies, and other adjudicatory bodies, such as Special Procedures at the United Nations and arbitration tribunals. This represents a steady increase from 884 cases in 2017 to 1,550 in 2020. Given Pakistan’s acute vulnerability, it has not been an exception.

Climate change litigation has emerged explosively across the globe since 2015; in 22 countries, 40 climate cases based on human rights have been filed. Natural disasters are a direct result of climate change, as weather patterns are altered, temperatures rise, and sea levels increase. The frequency of these natural disasters has increased worldwide. In 2021, flash floods struck Pakistan, India, and China; in 2024, hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the U.S.; Haiti suffered earthquakes; California experienced massive wildfires; and smog in Lahore and Mumbai reached hazardous levels, all urging the need for an immediate response. Pakistan, situated in a temperate zone, experiences extreme seasonal variations, ranging from harsh winters in the north to scorching summers in the south. It has progressively moved up the list of countries most affected by climate change and natural disasters, now ranking among the top ten most vulnerable nations. Nearly three million people in Pakistan are affected by disasters each year, with floods impacting 77% of those affected. Recently, the country has been further afflicted by smog, heatwaves, droughts, landslides, and storms, including cyclones, which negatively impact the livelihoods and health of its citizens.........

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