Malik: Poorest bear heaviest burden of climate crisis

Climate change and natural disasters are worsening housing problems for millions worldwide, Musadik Masood Malik, Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change and Environment Coordination, said during the Business Roundtable at the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

He stressed that housing is not only about shelter but also about poverty, safety, and social equality: "Access to safe and resilient housing for low-income families must be a central topic. We talk about housing solutions, but who are these solutions for? I don't see concrete solutions for low-income people. Today, 2.8 billion people live in inadequate housing conditions, and nearly 300 million face chronic homelessness. While a few countries account for most global emissions, the nations suffering the worst climate disasters contribute very little to those emissions."

Malik added that the chain of impacts is clear: "Greenhouse gas emissions are rising, temperatures are increasing, glaciers are melting, floods are occurring, weather patterns are changing – and ultimately, food security problems emerge. It is all interconnected."