The Impending Threat of Climate Change on Pakistan’s Prosperity

(CTN News) – Pakistan, a climate-vulnerable country, faces the unique problem of balancing economic expansion with the negative effects of climate change and falling agricultural production.

The country’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and is very vulnerable to climate change effects such as unpredictable rainfall, droughts, and floods, which have a direct impact on GDP growth. Experts feel that developing environmental concerns severely threaten our long-term development and livelihoods.

Because Pakistan’s economic growth is inextricably tied to its ability to adapt to and mitigate climatic effects, global organisations such as the World Bank, UNEP, UNDP, and climate watchdogs have conducted substantial research and reported on its vulnerability.

In its report ‘Pakistan Climate Change: A Risk Assessment,’ the World Bank identified Pakistan as particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves.

Global Organizations’ Perspective on Pakistan’s Climate Resilience Challenges

Given the catastrophic consequences of these occurrences for our agriculture, water resources, infrastructure, and human health, the report underlines the importance of taking early action to strengthen resilience and adapt to changing climate.

Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) mentioned the negative effects of climate change on our agriculture, coastal areas, and biodiversity in its report titled ‘Climate Change in Pakistan: Impacts and Adaptation Strategies,’ and urged for sustainable development practices, ecosystem conservation, and the implementation of climate-resilient strategies.

“We are at the crossroads of both climate change and the economy because of our vulnerability to climate change, recurring climate disasters, fossil fuel-based economy, and energy mix,” Climate Resilient International CEO Aftab Alam Khan stated.

“We have a combination of fossil fuel usage and the progressive integration of renewable energy into the existing system. “Inconsistency in just energy transition at the household or corporate level has hampered our path to a climate resilient future,” Khan added.