How Climate Change is Redefining International Security

News Desk

islamabad: Once viewed primarily as an environmental issue, climate change has now emerged as a critical security threat due to the increasing reliance of over half of the global economy on natural resources. This shift is reshaping geopolitical dynamics and prompting nations to reassess their sustainability strategies.

The UNFCCC defines climate change as “a change in climate attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, in addition to natural climate variability.” Sudden climate changes can lead to catastrophic events that threaten human survival, heightening vulnerability to non-traditional security threats such as resource scarcity and flash floods.

Resource scarcity is a major way in which climate change threatens international security. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), India’s economy, which heavily relies on nature, is extremely vulnerable to climate risks.

A third of its GDP comes from nature-dependent sectors, and the climate crisis could cost the country between 6.4 percent and 10 percent of its national income by 2100, potentially pushing an additional 50 million people into poverty.

Climate change has already impacted regions in Africa and reduced water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, potentially heightening tensions between Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Additionally, climate change has driven up cocoa prices, affecting regions like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which produce two-thirds of the world’s cocoa. Intense heat waves and frequent droughts have severely impacted cocoa harvests, driving up global prices.

Non-traditional security threats have altered dynamics over time, disrupting chemical and biological processes. Rising global temperatures, new disease emergence, and changing precipitation patterns are becoming increasingly alarming.

Human-induced disturbances, driven by current demands, are creating problems for future generations. The release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from industries and appliances damages the ozone layer, contributing to global warming.

This underscores the need for nations to adopt climate-friendly strategies promptly, as climate change now poses both environmental and economic challenges.

Pakistan’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of its economy, faces severe vulnerabilities due to climate change. Contributing about 24 percent of GDP, employing half the labor force, and serving as the largest source of foreign exchange earnings, agriculture is crucial for Pakistan. Frequent and intense weather events, such as floods and droughts, directly impact crop yields and food security.

Changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures exacerbate these vulnerabilities, threatening livelihoods and economic stability. Furthermore, climate change transcends national borders, involving international security issues such as transboundary water disputes and migration due to environmental stress.

As Pakistan grapples with these challenges, it underscores the broader global implications of climate change and highlights the need for international cooperation and strategies.

Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy 2012 (NCCP) provides a critical framework for addressing climate challenges through adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Mitigation involves reducing the intensity of global warming effects through measures that keep climate change within tolerable limits, while adaptation involves adjusting to the existing impacts of climate change, such as saving water during heavy rainfall for future use and implementing green economy techniques to reduce land erosion.

The updated 2021 policy aligns with international agreements like the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), integrating recent initiatives such as the “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami” and advancements in renewable energy. While these efforts are commendable, continued and expanded action is essential to address emerging climate issues and ensure Pakistan’s development remains climate-compatible.

The current government has recently launched several key climate initiatives, including a large-scale tree-planting campaign to enhance forest cover, advanced water conservation projects to improve irrigation efficiency, and efforts to support sustainable agriculture and reduce carbon emissions.

As climate change presents increasingly complex challenges, it is crucial that national policies and international collaborations not only strengthen but also translate into actionable measures.