Climate change and environmental crises stand as formidable challenges confronting humanity in the present age. These profound phenomena encompass shifts in global climatic patterns, the relentless ascent of temperatures, and the gradual depletion of nature’s invaluable resources. Their ramifications are far-reaching, casting a shadow over ecosystems, economies, and societies across the world, demanding urgent and enlightened intervention. January 2025 was the warmest January on record globally with an average surface air temperature reached a formidable 13.23°C, surpassing the 1991-2020 January average by 0.79°C. Most alarmingly, this temperature now stands 1.75°C above the pre-industrial threshold, marking the eighteenth occasion within the past nineteen months wherein the global mean temperature hath exceeded the perilous 1.5°C boundary.
The principal catalyst of climate change is the burgeoning concentration of greenhouse gases within the Earth’s atmosphere. Chief among these are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which ensnare solar heat, thereby intensifying the greenhouse effect. Deforestation further aggravates this plight, as forests, nature’s custodians of carbon, are felled, releasing their stored carbon back into the air. Industrial pursuits, spanning manufacturing, mining, and agriculture, likewise serve as formidable contributors, emitting pollutants and greenhouse gases that imperil the delicate balance of the natural world.
In 2025, Pakistan finds itself beset by ever-mounting tribulations wrought by climate change and environmental crises, casting a profound shadow upon its economy, infrastructure, and the well-being of its people. The realm has borne witness to an alarming surge in extreme weather calamities, with the year 2024 alone ushering forth no fewer than 28 such disasters, each inflicting devastation surpassing a billion dollars, culminating in a staggering toll of no less than $92.9 billion in losses. These grievous afflictions have exacted a heavy price, both in treasure and in human suffering, with an estimated 185,000 perishing betwixt the years 2010 and 2019, a stark testament to the relentless wrath of nature’s upheaval.
The dire repercussions of climate change upon human health are both profound and far-reaching. In 2015, Karachi and its surrounding regions fell victim to an unforgiving heatwave, wherein over 65,000 were stricken with affliction, and more than 2,000 lives were tragically lost. The calamitous floods of 2022 wrought devastation on an unprecedented scale, submerging nearly one-third of the realm and afflicting no fewer than 33 million inhabitants, half of whom were innocent children. The deluge ravaged vital water systems, compelling over 5.4 million to subsist upon tainted waters drawn from mere ponds and wells, thus exposing them to grievous maladies. This dire catastrophe laid bare a lamentable deficiency in emergency preparedness, the cost of which proved immense, claiming 1,730 lives, displacing 8 million, and subjecting the vulnerable to disease and dire under-nutrition. To this day, the sorrow endures, with no fewer than 89,000 individuals in Sindh and 116,000 in Baluchistan remaining in a state of permanent displacement, bereft of solace or certainty.
The economic toll of climate change is both vast and grievous. Between 1992 and 2021, Pakistan has suffered staggering losses amounting to $29.3 billion, a sum tantamount to 11.1% of the nation’s GDP as recorded in the year 2020. Foremost among the afflictions endured are the relentless droughts that plagued the land from 1998 to 2002 and once more in 2014 and 2015, the merciless heatwave of 2015, and the calamitous deluge of 2010, an event of unparalleled devastation, wherein one-fifth of the realm lay submerged, affecting 20 million and claiming the lives of over 2,000. These grievous tribulations stand as a solemn testament to the unyielding wrath of nature, exacting a heavy price upon the prosperity and well-being of the nation.
Agriculture, the very bedrock of Pakistan’s economy, stands imperilled beneath the looming spectre of climate change. It is foreseen that this most vital industry shall suffer grievously, with the annual yield of wheat, one of the nation's staple crops, declining by no less than 1% by the year 2050. Moreover, the scourge of air and water pollution shall only serve to deepen this crisis, casting a dark pall over the health of the populace, most especially upon those residing in regions of greatest vulnerability.
Pakistan, in the grand hierarchy of the climate change performance index, holds the 31st position, a standing marked by a confluence of strengths and frailties. Though the nation registers high in greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, it falters in the realm of climate policy and languishes most regrettably in the advancement of renewable energy. With noble aspirations, Pakistan has set forth an ambitious vision to elevate renewable energy to comprise 60% of its total energy mix by 2030, an endeavour requiring an estimated investment of no less than $100 billion. Yet, at present, the dominion’s reliance upon renewables remains a meagre 7%, with the yoke of fossil fuels weighing heavily upon its energy infrastructure. To attain this lofty objective, Pakistan must marshal vast resources, enact sweeping policy reforms, and embark upon an unwavering course of infrastructural enhancement, lest its ambitions remain but a vision unfulfilled.
The spectre of climate change and environmental crises looms as one of the gravest trials besetting mankind in this era. Their insidious influence pervades all spheres of existence, demanding swift and decisive intervention. The Earth's temperature hath ascended by an alarming measure, rising at a rate of 0.11°F (0.06°C) per decade since the year 1850, accumulating a total increase of nearly 2°F. Most ominously, since 1982, this warming hath hastened to 0.36°F (0.20°C) per decade, culminating in 2023, the hottest year ever recorded, with global temperatures standing 2.12°F (1.18°C) above the 20th-century mean.
The ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica endure grievous attrition, with Greenland surrendering no less than 279 billion tons of ice annually, whilst Antarctica yields a further 148 billion tons. This relentless melting fuels the rise of the seas, imperilling coastal dominions across the world. The scourge of extreme weather hath grown in both frequency and ferocity. In 2023, the United States alone suffered 28 climate-related calamities, each inflicting damages exceeding $1 billion, amassing a staggering $92.9 billion in losses. On a global scale, the toll hath been yet more severe, with 185,000 human beings perishing between 2010 and 2019.
The plight of humanity is further deepened by the grievous toll on health. Even now, 3.6 billion people dwell in lands acutely vulnerable to climate’s wrath. By the mid-century, it is foretold that climate change shall claim an additional 250,000 lives each year, striking through famine, pestilence, and searing heat. Should global temperatures ascend by 2°C above pre-industrial levels, no less than 5% of Earth’s species shall be imperilled with extinction, a dire fate that shall claim 16% should the warming reach 4.3°C. The economic burden of this unfolding catastrophe is equally formidable. By 2050, the relentless march of climate change is foreseen to diminish global incomes by a grievous 20%, inflicting a colossal $38 trillion in annual losses.
Climate change and environmental crises pose significant threats to our world. Understanding their causes and consequences is crucial for resolving them. A shift to renewable energy, conservation of natural resources, and sustainable practices are essential for a resilient future. Through global cooperation, we can overcome these challenges and preserve the environment for future generations. In Pakistan, climate change poses serious threats that demand immediate action. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience, and protecting vulnerable areas and people are essential. Only with firm commitment can we mitigate these dangers and restore a balanced, prosperous future.
