Climate Change in Pakistan: Rising Temperatures, Unpredictable Weather, and the Urgent Need for Action

Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing severe challenges that threaten its environment, economy, and human lives. Over the past decade, Pakistan has witnessed extreme weather events such as devastating floods, prolonged droughts, heatwaves, and rapid glacial melt in the north, all of which highlight the growing climate crisis. Rising temperatures are one of the most pressing issues, with cities like Jacobabad and Turbat often recording some of the highest temperatures on Earth, making large parts of the country nearly uninhabitable during summer. These extreme heatwaves not only affect human health but also reduce crop yields, strain electricity supply, and worsen water shortages. At the same time, unpredictable monsoon patterns have led to catastrophic flooding, such as the 2022 floods that displaced millions and submerged one-third of the country, and the recent 2025 Punjab floods that destroyed villages and farmland. Pakistan’s glaciers, which supply water to the Indus River, are melting at alarming rates due to global warming, putting future water security at risk. The agricultural sector, which employs a large part of the population, is struggling as erratic rainfall, salinity, and soil degradation threaten food production. Climate change is also triggering more forest fires, loss of biodiversity, and rising sea levels that endanger coastal cities like Karachi. Beyond environmental damage, the economic burden is equally severe, as billions of dollars are lost annually to climate-related disasters, while vulnerable communities fall deeper into poverty. To tackle this crisis, Pakistan must invest in renewable energy, strengthen disaster management, improve water conservation, and promote sustainable farming. Equally important is global cooperation, as Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions yet bears a disproportionate share of the consequences. Unless urgent steps are taken at both national and international levels, climate change will continue to pose an existential threat to Pakistan’s future generations.