Research confirms that global warming has worsened flooding in Pakistan

• Research confirms that climate change has worsened flooding in Pakistan.
• More than 300 people died due to catastrophic floods and flooding.
• Significant losses for the population due to the destruction of buildings and infrastructure.

In Islamabad, Pakistan (AP) — Severe floods that struck Pakistan in recent weeks have claimed the lives of hundreds of people. According to new research, these catastrophic events were exacerbated by climate change, human activities, and a volcanic eruption.

Research conducted by the international group World Weather Attribution indicated that the rains from June 24 to July 23 in Southern Asia were 10% to 15% stronger due to climate change, which contributed to significant flooding in cities and villages across Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan reported that at least 300 people died and 1,600 buildings were destroyed due to the flooding and heavy rains since June 26.

Saqib Hassan, a resident of northern Pakistan, recounted that on July 22, the floods destroyed his home and 18 buildings of his relatives, as well as their small farms. His livestock were swept away, resulting in significant losses—around 100 million rupees (360 thousand dollars) for his family.

Only the recent announcements from the local mosque served as the only warning they received to evacuate to a safer place. "Now we are homeless. Our buildings are destroyed. The government only provided food packages worth 50 thousand rupees (177 dollars) and seven tents, in which we have already been living for two weeks," Hassan reported.

Impact of heavy rains on disasters

High temperatures and intense rainfall, worsened by global warming, have accelerated the occurrence of extreme weather events faster than climate scientists expected, noted climatologist Jakob Steiner, who did not participate in the WWA study.

"In recent weeks, we have been trying to analyze the number of events not only in Pakistan but also in the Southern Asia region, which has affected us severely," he said.

"Many events that we projected for 2050 have occurred in 2025, as temperatures this summer have again been significantly higher than average," Steiner added.

Heavy monsoon rains have led to severe disasters that have affected Southern Asia, particularly Himachal Pradesh, which has engulfed five states over the past few months.

Melting glaciers have contributed to flooding, which destroyed vital areas between Nepal and China, as well as several hydropower plants in the region. Earlier this week, a village in northern India was devastated by flooding and landslides, resulting in the deaths of at least four people, while hundreds went missing.

Authors of the WWA research, which was published earlier this week, indicated that the rains they analyzed in Pakistan attest to the fact that climate change is making flooding more dangerous. The research showed that warmer air retains more moisture, which can lead to more intense rains.

"Every degree of warming produces more intense monsoon rains, which increases the need for urgent adaptation measures to transition from fossil fuel energy to renewable sources," noted Mariam Zachariah, a researcher at the Imperial College London and the lead author of the WWA study.

Impact of extreme weather on Pakistan

While Pakistan contributes less than 1% of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, studies indicate that the country suffers significant losses from extreme weather events. Pakistan experienced its most catastrophic monsoon season in 2022, when floods claimed the lives of over 1,700 people and caused damages estimated at around 40 billion dollars.

According to data from the United Nations Organization, global funds created to combat the consequences of climate change are insufficient for countries like Pakistan to cope with the aftermath of climate change. The UN warns that their fund for covering losses and damages only covers a small part of the necessary costs for addressing urgent economic losses linked to climate change.

The UN also indicates that developed countries, such as the USA and European states, which account for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, provide significantly less than necessary for financing adaptation. These funds could help improve housing and infrastructure in areas that are increasingly affected. According to the WWA report, a large portion of the rapidly growing urban population of Pakistan lives in temporary housing, often in flood-prone regions. The destruction of buildings was the main cause of the 300 deaths mentioned in the report, attributed to severe flooding events.

"A portion of the urban population of Pakistan lives in unstable settlements, where buildings are often destroyed and lives are lost," noted Maya Walberg from the Climate Center of the Red Cross, who also participated in compiling the WWA report. "Building resilient structures, sustainable housing in flood-prone areas, can help mitigate the consequences of severe monsoon rains."

Tags: Weather/Research