Climate Risk Index 2025: Understanding Pakistan’s Vulnerabilities and Resilience Needs

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025 by Germanwatch reveals the rising impacts of climate change, particularly for countries like Pakistan facing recurrent climate hazards. The report underscores the severe toll of inaction, with significant human casualties and economic losses linked to extreme weather events. It calls for urgent efforts to build climate resilience, highlighting the need for increased financial support and effective governance to address climate adaptation and security issues.

The Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025, published by Germanwatch, underscores the growing impacts of climate change and the urgent need for enhanced resilience efforts. This report assesses climate-related extreme weather events from 1993 to 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis through an annual climate impact index that has been published since 2006. The CRI categorizes countries based on their experiences with extreme weather, highlighting that countries like Pakistan are continuously threatened by recurring climate hazards.

The report documents the heavy toll of climate inaction, with over 765,000 lives lost globally and direct losses amounting to approximately $4.2 trillion from more than 9,400 extreme weather events. In the overall CRI ranking, Dominica, China, and Honduras are noted as the most affected countries. Pakistan is highlighted for its significant economic losses, particularly following the devastating floods of 2022.

During the severe monsoon season from June to September 2022, Pakistan was struck by floods and landslides affecting over 33 million people, resulting in more than 1,700 fatalities and nearly $15 billion in damage. The World Bank estimated that reconstruction costs could surpass $16 billion, reflecting the severity of the disaster and its impact on the nation. Despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan’s high vulnerability to climate change was notably underlined in the report.

The report also indicates that the floods exacerbated gender disparities, impacting women’s livelihoods in agriculture and livestock, and raising their vulnerability to gender-based violence. Furthermore, extreme heat events have become significantly more likely, complicating climate resilience efforts. Scientific data from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report supports the report’s findings, calling for urgent reassessment of international resilience-building strategies.

It emphasizes the necessity of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13, which demands urgent actions against climate change. The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events adversely affect food and water security, hindering overall progress towards SDGs. The connection between climate change and security is also highlighted, as climate impacts threaten individual wellbeing and national cohesion.

The CRI outlines how climate change can potentially trigger conflict through economic changes, socio-demographic shifts, migration, political instability, and psychological pressures, particularly in regions with ethnic tensions. Effective governance and risk management frameworks are essential, and adherence to the Sendai Framework and National Adaptation Plans is critical for addressing specific adaptation needs.

The report points out the stark need for increased climate resilience financing, criticizing COP29’s decision for lacking ambition concerning loss and damage measures. The IPCC projects that future human vulnerability will be concentrated in regions with inadequate capacities for basic services. The findings underscore that even high-income countries remain exposed to severe climate risks.

To improve climate resilience strategies, Pakistan’s policymakers could utilize insights from the CRI to prioritize robust investments in infrastructure and disaster preparedness. This analysis can be pivotal in securing international climate finance and protecting communities, ultimately promoting sustainable development efforts across the nation.

The Climate Risk Index 2025 highlights the escalating impacts of climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for resilience measures, particularly for vulnerable nations like Pakistan. With significant human and economic losses documented, the report calls for enhanced investments in climate adaptation and underscores the interconnectedness of climate change with security issues. Effective governance and increased financial support are paramount to addressing these challenges and promoting sustainable development.

Original Source: www.thenews.com.pk