Today Pakistan is in the frontline of climate change that has turned environmental stress into a national security crisis in the form of rising temperatures, devastating floods, and recurring droughts. The country witnessed temperatures rise to over 50°C (122°F) in May 2026, one of the highest ever in South Asia, causing heat-related deaths of dozens and hospital overloads. The devastating floods of 2022 that flooded one-third of Pakistan and displaced over a third of its population are not to be forgotten, but the recurrence of the extreme events since then has brought to the fore the fact that the floods are not episodic; it is systemic. The Global Climate Risk Index reports that Pakistan experienced more than 170 extreme climate events in the last 20 years which resulted in more than 10,000 deaths and economic losses of more than $4 billion. These numbers illustrate the loss of resilience and stability due to climate change.

Climate stress-Conflict nexus has been more clearly seen than ever before. Heatwaves have negatively affected wheat and fruit crop production, leading to a decline in food production by almost 10% in 2025, especially. The Russia Ukraine war has already created a crisis of grain supply for Pakistan, which is already import reliant, and it is now putting pressure on the country's agriculture industry. Sindh and Punjab growers complain of crop failures and orchards in Baluchistan have been charred by extended drought. These losses mean that unemployment rate rises in rural areas and people move to urban areas, such as Lahore and Karachi, which are already overburdened with people. The United Nations has stated that such climate induced migration could lead to the destabilization of fragile states, and Pakistan is a perfect case in point as the climate induced migration is further aggravated by political unrest and inflation. The 2022 floods were responsible for the loss of 2 million houses, as well as 4.4 million acres of crops, leaving millions of people in poverty and triggering food insecurity protests. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (news.un.org) estimated over 1,700 deaths in those floods making it one of the deadliest climate disasters in Pakistan's history.

Reactions to governance have been inconsistent. The Supreme Court has declared climate resiliency a fundamental right and is imploring provincial governments to act. In Gilgit Baltistan, an excellent job was done in moving the residents in advance of glacial floods to save their lives. However, the floods in Karachi in 2020 revealed the shortcomings in the management and indirectly put thousands of people in trouble for not getting the relief. Pakistan has taken a strong stance on climate justice, and is a vocal member supporting the Global Methane Pledge. and attended COP26 and COP28. But nothing will happen without strong implementation, however. Devolution makes coordination difficult; water, food and agriculture are within provincial authority, and climate change is federally financed. This is especially important to bridge the gap for coherent national action particularly when Pakistan is pursuing climate financing as part of the Paris Agreement (unfccc.int in Bing). However, if there is no interprovincial collaboration, adaptation strategies have the potential to be piecemeal and ineffective.

There has been some influence on momentum through leadership. Malik Amin Aslam under PTI led the efforts towards pledging 60% clean energy and 30% electric vehicles by 2030. The ongoing coalition government led by Senator Sherry Rehman has kept advocating on Pakistan's issues with the UN and obtained pledges for Climate Finance. But leadership needs to be manifested in results. Although there has been a promise, renewable energy sources still play a minor role in the energy mix, and reliance on coal continues. Failure of speedy investments in solar, wind and hydro would leave Pakistan even more energy insecure. According to the International Energy Agency Pakistan's energy demand is likely to double by 2030, which means transition to renewables is not only desirable but necessary. With the population continuing to swell, the country's high demand during heat waves is straining the already fragile energy grid and a radical change to sustainable energy is needed to keep up with the demand.

The economic aspect is also harsh. Pakistan has almost 40% of its labor force engaged in agriculture, but warmer temperatures and unpredictable rainfall pose risks to the viability of agriculture. Cotton exports have been diminished, and wheat imports have been necessary due to shortages, which are important for trade in fabrics. Heatwaves create a surge in energy demand, adding to a weak energy grid and putting people at risk of power outages. Further constraints are inflation, debts and political instability which restrict Pakistan's ability to invest in adaptation. International support is needed, but reforms are also urgent, and these reforms include not only smart climate agriculture, but also sustainable land use. This makes the number of investments required for climate resilient reconstruction following the flooding in 2022 exceptionally large, estimated by the World Bank to be at least $16 billion in Pakistan. If it is not done now, the disaster-recovery treadmill will continue to weaken the economy.

Pakistan must take a comprehensive approach towards this national security emergency. Taxes or cap and trade would encourage sustainable practices. A larger percentage of renewable energy use would lessen reliance on fossil fuels and increase resilience. Buildings, transport, and industry energy efficiency could relieve the grid. Re-forestation and afforestation would help to restore ecosystems and sequester carbon, whereas disaster preparedness such as early warning systems and resilient infrastructure could save lives. While international cooperation, including technology transfer and access to climate finance, remains a critical component, Pakistan needs to enhance the interprovincial coordination of policies for water, agriculture, and environment. Participating in the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28 is a sign of the nation's climate justice aspirations, but the challenge lies in implementing global pledges at the local level in the effort to build resilience. The UN Climate Change Secretariat has stressed that this is the case for Pakistan and other nations that have little to do with global emissions and disproportionately affected by the climate crisis should be given priority in funding.

The need for action is a pressing one. Climate change is already changing the future of Pakistan and not only the environment, but the national security, economy and social cohesiveness is also at stake. The floods in 2022, heatwaves in 2025 and 2026, and the recurrent droughts are not one-offs, but part of a new normal. Pakistan can overcome vulnerabilities and transform them into opportunities by implementing ambitious reforms, investing in resilience, and building international partnerships. There is a need for vision, leadership and collective will for the survival and prosperity of generations to come.