������˾��

Erum Haider�s expertise on climate change in Karachi cited in New York Times article

As climate change wreaks havoc across the globe, a about the devastating heat crisis in Karachi, Pakistan, highlighted the expertise of Erum Haider, assistant professor of political science,��environmental studies, and South Asian studies at ������˾��. The article describes an insufferable stretch of heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit�attributed to climate change�that has filled Karachi hospitals beyond capacity from patients experiencing heat-related illnesses and flooded morgues with bodies.

�This is a humanitarian crisis, but many heat wave-related deaths won�t be officially recorded as heat deaths,� Haider said in the article. Instead of attributing the deaths to the extreme heat, the cause of deaths will be recorded as fever, heart attack, or infant mortality, �which obscures the true impact.� Additionally, she explained that the power outages in the slums, which cut off the power and the use of fans for six to 16 hours a day, are �catastrophic for everyone� especially infants, the elderly, and pregnant women.

Haider, who joined the ������˾�� faculty in 2020, has worked on energy and public goods provision in Karachi since 2017 and expanded her research to include climate change�s impact on South Asian cities, especially the impoverished populations. The recipient of more than $80,000 in grants and ������˾���s 2024 Henry Luce II Fund for Distinguished Scholarship, Haider incorporates her research into the four courses she teaches each year at ������˾�� that focus on South Asian politics, urban politics, and environmental studies. Several ������˾�� students have worked as Haider�s summer research assistants and included her research data as part of their Independent Study projects.

Posted in Faculty, Homepage Featured, News on July 10, 2024.