Editorial
Pakistan’s escalating vulnerability to climate change is having a profound impact on its development and economy. The country’s exposure to extreme weather events, which disrupt lives and damage infrastructure, has only grown worse over recent years, according to the ‘Climate Risk Index 2025’ report by Germanwatch. This report highlights that in 2022, Pakistan experienced devastating floods, causing nearly 1,800 deaths and an economic loss of $54 billion. Pakistan was ranked as the most affected country in terms of economic losses, alongside Belize and Italy, underscoring its susceptibility to recurring climate disasters.
The report, which tracks data from 1993 to 2022, reveals that Pakistan faces continuous climate threats, with extreme events becoming more frequent due to the ongoing climate crisis. This underscores the need for Pakistan to not only focus on disaster recovery but also invest heavily in building resilience to future climate events. One crucial step would be to develop early warning systems to anticipate and mitigate climate catastrophes, with global efforts underway to monitor tipping points that could trigger irreversible damage to the planet.
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However, the financial support required to tackle these challenges is currently insufficient. Pakistan, already burdened by high external debt and a growing fiscal crisis, is struggling to address both its climate vulnerabilities and its economic distress. Despite initiatives like the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), which aims to provide climate finance, Pakistan’s debt issues and economic struggles have left it with limited access to affordable funding. The RSF’s terms, while helpful, do not sufficiently consider Pakistan’s unique challenges, including its debt distress and high poverty levels. As global climate change continues to threaten vulnerable nations, reforming international financial systems and increasing climate finance is critical for Pakistan’s future stability.
