Climate Change: A Major Obstacle to Pakistan’s Growth
News Desk
Islamabad: Global experts at the Breath Pakistan International Climate Change Conference warned that worsening climate change is the biggest threat to economic and environmental resilience, particularly in the Global South, with Pakistan at the forefront of vulnerability.
The two-day conference, titled “The World, Pakistan & Provinces in Climate Change,” was inaugurated by Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof Ahsan Iqbal. He highlighted Pakistan’s growing climate challenges, past climate-induced losses, and government initiatives aimed at tackling the crisis.
UN Warns of Accelerating Climate Crisis
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Yahya, cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating, “We are on a Highway to Climate Hell with our foot still on the accelerator.”
He warned that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to rise, pushing global temperatures towards a catastrophic 3.1°C increase by the end of the century—far beyond the Paris Agreement targets.
Yahya recalled the 2022 floods, which caused $30 billion in economic losses, submerging a third of Pakistan. Despite this wake-up call, emissions remain unchecked, and urgent international support is needed for vulnerable nations.
Climate Injustice
Describing climate injustice as a harsh reality for many Pakistani communities, Yahya praised the Living Indus Initiative, recognized by the UN World Restoration Programme as a flagship effort. The initiative aims to restore 30 percent of the Indus Basin by 2030, positioning Pakistan as a global leader in river restoration and climate adaptation.
Major Economic Threat
Valerie Hickey, Global Director for Climate Change at the World Bank, echoed concerns, stating that Pakistan is projected to lose 6.5–9 percent of its GDP annually by 2050 due to climate change.
“Pakistan already loses 6 percent of its GDP due to inefficient urban transportation. Air pollution will further escalate economic losses,” she added. She stressed that climate change is a poverty trap, preventing Pakistan from achieving upper-middle-income status by 2047.
A National Carbon Sink
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, highlighted KP’s 37 percent forest cover, which sequesters 50 percent of Pakistan’s total GHG emissions. He called for 10 percent of the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award to be allocated for forest preservation, similar to India’s approach.
Since 2017, KP has invested over Rs657 billion in afforestation and conservation, raising the province’s forest cover to 26 percent—above the international average of 25 percent.
Legal and Financial Commitments
UNDP Resident Representative, Samuel Rizk, commended Pakistan’s climate diplomacy, particularly in securing a Loss and Damage Fund for climate-vulnerable nations.
Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, Mansoor Ali Shah, underscored that climate change disproportionately affects the Global South, with Pakistan experiencing severe floods, glacial melt, and water crises.
Nine Pillars for Climate Justice
Presenting a framework for climate justice, Justice Shah outlined nine key pillars, including:
- Strong focus on climate adaptation, loss, and damage compensation
- A well-informed and independent judiciary
- Readily available climate finance, including Islamic climate finance mechanisms
- Streamlined climate funding access to cut bureaucratic delays
- Strengthened climate diplomacy among Global South nations
- Robust climate accountability mechanisms to prevent fund mismanagement
- Establishment of climate courts and a global climate dispute settlement mechanism
Experts stressed that Pakistan must invest in climate resilience, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, while mobilizing private sector participation.
They urged the international community to support Pakistan in its fight against climate change, emphasizing that failure to act will deepen climate injustice and economic instability.
