The Crucial Role of Literature in Recognizing Climate Change as an Urgent Reality: A Case Study of Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Climate change is the most pressing issue humanity has been facing currently. Globally, it is affecting almost every field of life. Recognizing and understanding climate change is crucial for implementing effective practices and developing suitable policies that foster a global culture of sustainability and resilience to mitigate its adverse impacts. As Pakistan ranks among the countries most affected by climate change, its Malakand division is similarly exposed to more various climate change hazards. This division has witnessed many climate-induced calamities over the last few decades. Given the significance of the phenomenon, this study aims to highlight the role of literature, specifically climate fiction (cli-fi), in recognizing climate change as an urgent reality of time. Using a mixed research methodology, the current study reveals the pivotal role of literature in depicting climate change as a real and ongoing phenomenon, its core causes, lethal consequences, and potential remedial strategies. The study enlists fictional literary predictions and precautions in connection with factual data. In addition to developing an understanding of the phenomenon, the study supports awareness campaigns and advocates for timely requisite measures. Additionally, the study also corresponds to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) No. 13 Climate Action and 15: Life on Land.