This article explores the effects of climate change on the economy of Pakistan by reviewing the article Climate Change: A Thread to the Economic Growth of Pakistan by Naeem Akram & Abdul Hameed. As Frances Beinecke said; I have long understood that climate change is not only an environmental issue – it is a humanitarian, economic, health, and justice issue as well. The climate issue is a major issue in the 21st century for the entire world and Pakistan is included in those countries which are badly affected by climate change. The contribution of Pakistan to GHG emissions is just 0.8 percent which seems very low as compared to other countries. Despite this fact, Pakistan is the major victim of climate change which not only affects the environment of Pakistan but also has serious problems for Pakistan`s economy.
Climate change has negative impacts on several sectors of Pakistan`s economy which include agriculture, energy, health sector, water resources, etc. However, it has major effects on agriculture because the economy of Pakistan depends on agriculture. As Pakistan is an agricultural country agriculture is considered as the backbone of Pakistan`s economy. In 2022 due to floods, Pakistan`s economy had a loss of 15.2 billion. It also destroyed agricultural land and caused displacement of people. It has severe effects on crops like wheat, rice, cotton, and sugarcane.
In addition, Pakistan is frequently exposed to adverse natural disasters like floods, cyclones & droughts which cause poverty, people`s displacement, and financial crises, especially in rural areas. Climate change has a severe impact because Pakistan is a highly populated country & includes developing countries that have fewer resources with dependence on natural resources and agriculture. It is expected that by 2040 the average temperature of the country will rise by 0.5 degrees Celsius and 10% of all crops or 30,000 Pakistani Rupees per acre will be lost. It also affects foreign investments and many countries are insecure about investing in such states which suffer from economic instability and climate issues. It also affects the food and energy security that is made from natural resources.
Climate change is a global issue and requires global solutions. Here, Pakistan is the victim & developed countries are contributing to the creation of climate issues. So, to protect our world from the severe effects of climate change, developed countries must take suitable measures to decrease the emission of harmful gases and countries come together to decrease its impacts on the world’s environment. Also, Pakistan has taken many measures but it needs more concentration to take some measures at the national level to mitigate its impact.
In conclusion, we can say that climate change is not just an environmental issue it is a social and economic issue that hurts Pakistan’s economy. Therefore, it is important for Pakistan to take more effective measures to decrease the effect of climate change make appropriate policies, and interact with other countries for the protection of the economy of Pakistan and ultimately the lives of people in Pakistan.
The writer is a student of “BS IR” at “International Islamic University Islamabad” and a member of PYDIR.