Pakistan stands at the frontline of the global climate crisis, enduring its devastating impacts despite contributing less than one percent to global emissions. The country’s vulnerability is evident as extreme weather events—heatwaves, glacial melt, erratic rainfall—become the new normal, threatening livelihoods, food security, and economic stability.
The economic cost of climate change is rising rapidly, especially in the agricultural sector, which employs 38% of the labor force and contributes nearly 20% to GDP. From wheat and rice to mangoes and livestock, climate stress is crippling productivity. With crop yields falling and livestock suffering, the financial losses—already reaching $3–14 billion annually—are pushing Pakistan’s economy closer to a tipping point.
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Senator Sherry Rehman has called for declaring an environmental emergency, citing Pakistan’s top ranking in the 2022 Climate Risk Index. Her plea for global environmental justice underscores the frustration of low-emission nations forced to bear the cost of high-carbon economies. “We are not in the top 10. We are number one,” she warned, highlighting rising natural disasters and systemic damage.
The agriculture-driven economy is already showing signs of stress. GDP growth forecasts have been slashed, food inflation is climbing, and millions face income loss. Crops like cotton, sugarcane, and pulses are suffering under erratic weather patterns, while livestock deaths due to heatwaves and disease further compound the crisis in rural communities.
Pakistan’s climate emergency is not a warning for the future—it is a harsh, ongoing reality. Without urgent domestic reforms and international support, the damage could soon become irreversible.
