Climate change today is not simply about rising temperatures or melting glaciers; it is about who pays the price for decades of unchecked industrialization. Pakistan’s case illustrates this injustice starkly. Contributing less than one percent to global carbon emissions, the country is nevertheless among those most exposed to floods, heat waves, droughts, and glacial melt. From the devastating floods of 2022 to recurring climate-induced food and water insecurity, Pakistan has become a frontline state in a war it did not start. Dr. Musadik Malik rightly called attention to this imbalance, reminding the world that vulnerability is not proportional to responsibility.
At Think Fest 2026 in Lahore, Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik delivered a message that resonated far beyond the walls of Alhamra Arts Council. By declaring the global climate crisis not merely an environmental emergency but a failure of international cooperation and justice, he framed the debate in moral and political terms that the world can no longer afford to ignore. His emphasis on “scientific diplomacy” offered a powerful roadmap for how nations, particularly those most vulnerable, can navigate a deeply unequal global system.
The minister’s focus on science diplomacy is particularly timely. In an era marked by geopolitical rivalries and fragmented international politics, science remains one of the few universal languages. Shared research, data exchange, and collaborative innovation can build bridges where traditional diplomacy often fails. Whether it is climate modeling, early-warning systems, or green technologies, scientific cooperation offers practical solutions that transcend borders. For countries like Pakistan, access to such global scientific networks is not a luxury but a necessity for survival and resilience.
Yet, as Dr. Musadik Malik pointed out, science alone is not enough. What is required is accountability. The current global economic order allows a small number of wealthy nations and corporations to reap enormous profits from carbon-intensive industries while the environmental and social costs are borne by poorer countries. This imbalance is at the heart of climate injustice. The idea that profits can be privatized while climate consequences are “socialized” among billions is ethically indefensible and politically unsustainable.
A global mechanism to hold high-emitting countries financially accountable, as proposed by Dr. Musadik Malik, is therefore not radical; it is reasonable. Climate finance, loss-and-damage funds, and technology transfers should be seen not as charity but as compensation for harm already done. Without such mechanisms, promises made at international climate summits risk becoming hollow declarations rather than instruments of real change.
ThinkFest 2026 provided an important platform for this conversation, bringing together scholars, policymakers, and citizens to reflect on global and national challenges Dr. Musadik Malik’s remarks positioned Pakistan not as a passive victim but as an articulate advocate for climate justice and ethical global governance. His call to reshape policies based on data and ethics reflects a growing realization that the climate crisis demands both scientific rigor and moral clarity.
As the world moves deeper into an era of environmental uncertainty, Pakistan’s voice grounded in scientific diplomacy and justice deserves to be heard. The choice before the international community is clear: continue along a path of unequal burden-sharing, or embrace cooperation, accountability, and fairness. For the sake of a livable planet, the latter must prevail.