Kashif Ali Dogar
Climate change is a reality that Pakistan has to face and deal with urgently. The country experienced one of the worst floods in its history in 2022, which affected more than 33 million people and submerged one-third of its land area.
Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, even though it contributes only 0.9% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. The diverse and beautiful landscapes of Pakistan, from the high mountains of the Himalayas to the fertile plains of the Indus Valley, are at risk of being damaged or destroyed by the changing climate.
The impact of climate change on the economy and the people’s well-being, especially in the agriculture sector, is enormous and negative.
Pakistan has shown its commitment to a sustainable, low carbon, and climate-resilient future by signing the Paris Agreement, but it faces many challenges in implementing its Nationally Determined Contributions. There is a lack of awareness, resources, and capacity to develop and execute effective climate adaptation strategies.
Pakistan also relies on short-term and superficial measures that do not address the root causes of climate vulnerability and resilience. This hampers its economic growth and its progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, where it ranks 128th out of 166 countries in 2023.
The question that Pakistan needs to ask itself is ‘How do we fix this?’ The answer may lie in an unlikely source of hope for Pakistan, even in these difficult times. There is a symbiotic relationship between building climate resilience and achieving economic growth, and there is a need for collaboration and partnership between civil society, private sector, and government agencies to realize these goals.
The private sector can play a vital role in climate resilience, as it has the potential to invest, innovate, and develop cutting-edge technologies for climate mitigation and adaptation. Many private sector companies have already incorporated climate change mitigation goals, such as energy efficiency and carbon reduction, into their sustainability frameworks. They can also help create innovation ecosystems and raise public awareness about climate change when they work with the public sector.
The public sector, on the other hand, has the advantage of having extensive networks and relationships with various stakeholders and can facilitate large-scale engagement and participation in climate resilience initiatives, which are essential for their success and sustainability.
International cooperation is also crucial, as climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. Pakistan must actively engage with the international community, seeking both technical assistance and financial support for climate adaptation projects. The public sector can play a key role in facilitating that.
However, creating awareness and building consensus is only the first step in the journey towards climate resilience for Pakistan, as the expected transformation will not be an easy task. At the 2022 UN Climate Conference, it was estimated that Pakistan needed nearly USD 248 billion by 2030 to transform its energy needs, develop climate resilient infrastructure, and restore human damage to biodiversity.
With an annual GDP of USD 350 billion, how can Pakistan bridge the financing gap and ensure that potential investment opportunities become realities? Private sector financing can help bridge these gaps, as banks like Standard Chartered offer sustainable financing with established risk mitigation frameworks and linked concessionary pricing for both green and transition financing needs. The cost of not embracing this change will be high and the price to pay will be our loss of competitiveness on the global stage.
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Following is a possible way to critically evaluate the legislative, administrative, awareness, financial, and political recommendations to ensure climate resilience in Pakistan:
Legislative: Pakistan has enacted several laws and policies to address climate change, such as the National Climate Change Policy (2012), the National Climate Change Act (2017), the National Disaster Management Act (2010), and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (1997). However, these laws and policies need to be harmonized, updated, and implemented effectively to ensure climate resilience. For example, the National Climate Change Policy has not been revised since 2012 and does not reflect the current realities and challenges of climate change. The National Climate Change Act has not been fully operationalized and lacks clear institutional arrangements, roles, and responsibilities for climate action. The National Disaster Management Act has not been aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) and does not adequately address the underlying drivers of disaster risk. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act has not been enforced properly and does not cover all aspects of environmental protection, such as biodiversity, air quality, and waste management. Therefore, Pakistan needs to review, revise, and harmonize its existing laws and policies on climate change and ensure their effective implementation and enforcement at all levels of government.
Administrative: Pakistan has established several institutions and mechanisms to coordinate and implement climate change and disaster management activities, such as the Ministry of Climate Change, the Climate Change Council, the Climate Change Authority, the National Disaster Management Authority, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities. However, these institutions and mechanisms face many challenges, such as lack of capacity, resources, coordination, and accountability. For example, the Ministry of Climate Change has limited staff, budget, and authority to oversee and guide climate action across sectors and provinces. The Climate Change Council and the Climate Change Authority have not been fully functional and have not met regularly to provide strategic direction and oversight for climate change. The National Disaster Management Authority and the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities have not been able to effectively coordinate and integrate disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation efforts. Therefore, Pakistan needs to strengthen the capacity, resources, coordination, and accountability of its existing institutions and mechanisms on climate change and disaster management and ensure their alignment with the national and provincial development plans and priorities.
Awareness: Pakistan has a low level of awareness and understanding of climate change and its impacts among the general public, the media, the civil society, and the private sector. This hampers the engagement and participation of these stakeholders in climate action and resilience building. For example, the general public has limited knowledge and awareness of the causes and consequences of climate change and the actions they can take to reduce their vulnerability and exposure. The media has not been able to effectively communicate and disseminate climate information and messages to the public and influence public opinion and behavior. The civil society has not been able to mobilize and advocate for climate action and resilience at the grassroots level and hold the government accountable for its commitments and obligations. The private sector has not been able to recognize and seize the opportunities and benefits of climate action and resilience for their businesses and contribute to the financing and innovation of climate solutions. Therefore, Pakistan needs to increase the awareness and understanding of climate change and its impacts among the various stakeholders and foster their engagement and participation in climate action and resilience building.
Financial: Pakistan has a huge financing gap for climate action and resilience, as the estimated cost of climate change adaptation and mitigation exceeds the available domestic and international resources. According to the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted after the 2022 floods, Pakistan needs over US$16.3 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation in a climate-resilient and inclusive manner. According to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted under the Paris Agreement, Pakistan needs US$40 billion for mitigation and US$7-14 billion for adaptation annually until 2030. However, Pakistan’s domestic resources for climate action and resilience are limited and constrained by its fiscal deficit, debt burden, and competing development needs. Pakistan’s access to international climate finance is also limited and challenging, as it faces difficulties in meeting the eligibility criteria, accessing the funds, and reporting the results of the various climate funds and mechanisms. Therefore, Pakistan needs to mobilize and leverage more domestic and international resources for climate action and resilience and improve its planning, management, and utilization of the available resources.
Political: Pakistan has a high level of political commitment and leadership for climate action and resilience, as demonstrated by its participation and contribution to the global and regional climate negotiations and initiatives. Pakistan has also shown its willingness and readiness to cooperate and collaborate with other countries and partners on climate action and resilience, as evidenced by its co-hosting of the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan with the United Nations in January 2023. However, Pakistan also faces some political challenges and risks that could undermine its climate action and resilience, such as the lack of political consensus and stability, the inter-provincial and inter-sectoral conflicts and competition, and the external and internal security threats and pressures. Therefore, Pakistan needs to maintain and enhance its political commitment and leadership for climate action and resilience and address the political challenges and risks that could hamper its climate action and resilience.
Therefore, it is critical to ensure climate resilience among the nation for development and also for survival.
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