Climate Risk Index 2025: Addressing Pakistan’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
The Climate Risk Index 2025 reveals escalating climate change impacts, categorizing countries based on their exposure to extreme weather events. Pakistan, facing repeated climate hazards, suffered devastating floods in 2022, resulting in severe human and economic losses. The report emphasizes the need for urgent resilience measures and increased financial support for affected nations, especially in light of the climate-security nexus and future vulnerabilities expected in regions lacking infrastructure.
The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025, published by Germanwatch in February 2025, underscores the increasing impacts of climate change and the pressing need for enhanced resilience. Analyzing data from 1993 to 2022, the CRI evaluates the effects of extreme weather events on various countries, revealing two main categories: nations facing isolated extreme events and those, like Pakistan, enduring recurring climate threats.
The report details the severe human and economic toll attributed to inaction, with over 765,000 lives lost globally and direct losses nearing $4.2 trillion due to extreme weather. Within the CRI rankings for 1993-2022, Dominica, China, and Honduras emerged as the hardest hit, while Pakistan’s situation in 2022 is notably dire, marked by substantial economic losses from recent natural disasters.
During the 2022 monsoon season, Pakistan experienced catastrophic floods impacting over 33 million people, resulting in approximately 1,700 fatalities and nearly $15 billion in damages. This calamity further entails estimated reconstruction costs of $16 billion, showcasing Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change despite its minimal greenhouse gas emissions. The World Bank has recognized the disaster as one of the costliest in history, linking severe weather to poverty exacerbation and gender disparities.
Additionally, the report emphasizes the connection between climate change and security concerns, indicating how extreme weather can exacerbate economic instability, social pressures, and conflict, particularly in regions with existing ethnic tensions. This highlights the urgency for robust governance and risk management frameworks.
The CRI advocates for comprehensive resilience measures and effective implementation of international agreements, like the Sendai Framework and National Adaptation Plans, to address countries’ specific adaptation needs. However, the current outlook for resilience funding remains poor, necessitating immediate increases in financial support for vulnerable countries.
As future vulnerabilities are likely to concentrate in regions with insufficient infrastructure and basic services, the report advises on the critical need for ambitious climate mitigation efforts. It asserts that all nations, especially high-income countries, must elevate their climate action commitments to fortify global resilience against climate impacts. This comprehensive analysis serves as a call to action, urging Pakistan to enhance its climate resilience strategies and foster international cooperation in securing climate finance and improving disaster preparedness across regions.
The Climate Risk Index 2025 highlights the pressing realities of climate change, specifically noting the recurring threats faced by countries like Pakistan. The extensive human and economic toll necessitates immediate action and sound governance to build resilience globally. Moreover, the findings urge policymakers to prioritize investments in infrastructure and adaptation measures to enhance vulnerability mitigation, thereby promoting sustainable development.
Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk
