The systemic biases in global funding systems are not just perpetuating inequality but actively worsening outcomes for those already on the frontlines of survival
- “We are on a highway to climate hell. For vulnerable communities that hell is already here” – UN Chief
- As an ordinary community development professional, what I request is, “It’s time to change course before the road runs out”
Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo
In Pakistan, where extreme weather displaces and insecure food to millions annually all over Pakistan it is easy to find that children are scavenging for scraps of food, climate disasters are not abstract threats they are daily realities. Yet, as these communities grapple with escalating crises, another world leaders-made disaster looms the withdrawal of aid from wealthy nations and international agencies. This dual burden of climate chaos and shrinking support exposes a harsh truth, the systemic biases in global funding systems are not just perpetuating inequality but actively worsening outcomes for those already on the frontlines of survival.
The recent decision by several affluent nations to slash foreign aid budgets, coupled with the misprioritization of resources by international bodies, has created a perfect storm. Marginalized groups of women, Indigenous peoples, rural populations, and refugees are bearing the brunt of this neglect. As climate disasters grow fiercer and more frequent, the failure to address these structural inequities risks condemning millions to cycles of irreversible harm.
While writing I also acknowledge that only 10% of climate funds reach local communities (as per the International Institute for Environment and Development). And most of the aid is tied with certain prerequisites, Over 30% of aid from OECD countries comes with strings attached, requiring recipient nations to purchase goods/services from donor countries, inflating costs, and delaying critical projects. Even if aid reaches the grassroots organizations led by women, Indigenous groups or the grassroots are most of the time being sidelined in favor of large NGOs with political connections.
The World Meteorological Organization reports that climate-related disasters have quadrupled since 1970, with low-income countries suffering 90% of deaths and economic losses. Yet these nations contribute less than 5% of global emissions. From Pakistan’s biblical floods in 2022 to Cyclone Freddy’s devastation in Malawi, the link between climate injustice and systemic neglect is undeniable. While wealthy nations invest in “adaptation” projects (e.g., seawalls, drought-resistant crops), vulnerable communities are left scrambling for basic survival. The UN’s $83 billion climate finance shortfall in 2023 means critical projects like early warning systems or healthcare in disaster zones are now shelved.
Though multiple projects were designed just to shift power to communities through direct funding mechanisms, it seems the untied aid from political preferences remains an issue for the developed and wealthy nations. The climate crisis is a mirror, reflecting who the world values and who it discards. As floods erode, heatwaves burn, droughts deepen, and storms rage, the choices of powerful nations and agencies will determine whether we descend into chaos or rise toward justice, accountability and service. The solutions have been tested for centuries, what’s missing is the political courage to act. As stated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “We are on a highway to climate hell.” For vulnerable communities, that hell is already here. As an ordinary community development professional, what I request is, “It’s time to change course before the road runs out”.
Read: Disenfranchised Social Fabric
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Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo is a Community Development Specialist based in Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan
