By Aftab Hameed Mirani
The global order is undergoing a quiet revolution. Traditional symbols of national strength, military arsenals, economic clout, and strategic alliances, are no longer sufficient to secure a country’s future.
In the 21st century, power is increasingly defined by a nation’s ability to adapt to environmental change, safeguard natural resources, and protect its population from ecological shocks. Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is now a central, nontraditional security issue.
Alarmingly, Pakistan remains one of the least prepared nations to confront it. Despite contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan ranks among the most climate-vulnerable countries.
The catastrophic floods of 2022 were a harrowing wake-up call, over one-third of the country was submerged, more than 33 million people displaced, and infrastructure damage ran into the billions.
Yet even after this disaster, our national priorities barely shifted. This lack of response reflects more than just policy failure—it reveals a deeper disconnect in our understanding of power and national interest.
Pakistan’s security paradigm remains focused on borders and budgets, while the slow-moving tsunami of climate change threatens our very survival. Countries around the world are responding with foresight.
Bangladesh has invested in disaster-resilient infrastructure and community-based adaptation.
Morocco is rapidly expanding solar energy.
Gulf nations are diversifying their economies with clean energy and sustainable urban planning. These states are not just preparing for survival, but they are positioning themselves for leadership in a world shaped by climate logic.
Pakistan must do the same, urgently.
Our water crisis is already upon us. Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates, rainfall is becoming erratic, and groundwater levels are plummeting due to unregulated extraction.
Agriculture, our economic backbone is under severe threat. Without a comprehensive water strategy that prioritizes conservation, modern irrigation, and equitable distribution, we risk internal instability and food insecurity.Our dependence on imported fossil fuels is equally unsustainable.
The global energy landscape is shifting toward renewable, yet Pakistan remains locked in a costly, polluting model. Our fuel import bill strains national reserves, and global oil price volatility leaves us economically exposed.
Meanwhile, we possess vast untapped renewable potential—particularly solar and wind—in Balochistan, southern Punjab, and Sindh. Embracing clean energy is not just environmentally wise but a strategic economic imperative. To make this transition, we need strong institutions.
Climate resilience requires governance that is proactive, well-funded, and decentralized.
Currently, our institutions lack authority, resources, and coordination.
The National Disaster Management Authority is overstretched, and provincial departments often lack technical expertise and long-term planning. Climate governance must evolve to anticipate risks, integrate adaptation into development, and enforce public accountability.
Education and public engagement must also take center stage. With over 60% of our population under the age of 30, our youth can be a driving force for change. Yet our education system does not prepare them for a climate-insecure world. We must embed climate literacy into school curricula, incorporate green economy skills into vocational training, and empower universities to lead in sustainability research. The youth need tools, not just awareness—to innovate, adapt, and lead.
Additionally, climate diplomacy must be central to our foreign policy. As climate finance becomes a decisive factor in international development and lending, Pakistan must present credible, data-driven, and transparent adaptation plans. Access to global support will depend on our ability to advocate for climate justice as informed negotiators, not passive recipients.
The stakes are not only environmental, they are deeply economic, social, and political. Global financial institutions are beginning to factor climate risk into investment decisions. Countries that lag in adaptation will find it harder to attract capital, trade opportunities, and development assistance.
Environmental performance is becoming a key determinant of national competitiveness and Pakistan cannot afford to fall behind. Yet, despite the challenges, there is hope.
Pakistan is endowed with abundant renewable energy, fertile land, biodiversity, and a strategic location. What we lack is not capacity, but coordination, commitment, and political courage.
Climate resilience must become more than a development goal—it must become a unifying national mission, rallying government, civil society, businesses, and youth. To delay is to deepen our vulnerability.
To act is to build a Pakistan that is not merely reacting to disasters, but shaping its own destiny in the emerging climate economy.
The time for symbolic speeches and disaster-driven responses is over. What we need now is sustained investment, strategic foresight, and a mindset shift at every level of governance. We must act now to avoid deepening our vulnerability and to build a Pakistan that actively shapes its destiny in the climate economy.
Climate is no longer the backdrop of development—it is its foundation. If Pakistan wants to preserve power, protect sovereignty, and secure the future of its people, it must recognize that in today’s world, climate leadership defines true power in sense of nontraditional security threats. Before the costs become irreversible, decisive climate action must begin, now.
