Pakistan Must Strengthen Climate-Health Policies: Experts

News Desk

Islamabad: Climate and public health experts have called on the Pakistani government to declare climate change a national health emergency, warning that the country’s rapidly rising vulnerability requires urgent, science-driven interventions. 

Among the measures under discussion is Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), a geoengineering tool that could potentially reduce extreme temperatures and mitigate health risks for millions of people.

The recommendations came during a two-day national consultation hosted by COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) on November 26–27, which brought together researchers, policymakers, malaria specialists, and climate governance experts to assess Pakistan’s readiness to confront the health consequences of climate disruption.

Experts highlighted that Pakistan’s public health systems remain ill-prepared for the growing impacts of climate change, including spikes in malaria and other vector-borne diseases, heat stress, and emerging climate-related illnesses.

“Climate and health can no longer be treated as separate policy areas,” noted speakers at the workshop, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated approaches.

Organized in collaboration with the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG) and the Directorate of Malaria Control, and supported by the UK-based Degrees Initiative, the forum also examined the potential role of SRM in complementing climate adaptation strategies. 

While experts agreed that operational deployment of SRM requires cautious, science-based evaluation, they stressed that responsible research and public deliberation are critical to prepare Pakistan for potential interventions.

The consultation further highlighted gaps in Pakistan’s climate governance, noting that existing policies often overlook the scientific, ethical, and social dimensions of emerging climate tools.

Participants called for cross-sector engagement, transparent communication, and inclusive policymaking to ensure that any future interventions do not exacerbate social inequalities or create unintended consequences.

CUI’s research team, recognized for its work on SRM modelling in the Global South, stressed the need for coherent policy frameworks that integrate climate science, public health priorities, and socio-political considerations.

Strengthening institutional capacity, updating risk assessments, and fostering sustained collaboration were identified as key steps to ensure ethically grounded and socially just climate policies.

The consultation concluded with a strong consensus, stressing Pakistan must urgently rethink its climate-health governance, invest in research and preparedness for innovative interventions like SRM, and anchor all measures in community-driven, justice-oriented approaches to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems under growing climate stress.