Pakistan is not merely a nation facing a climate crisis; it is a stark, living testament to the existential threat confronting the Global South. With temperatures routinely breaching 50 degrees Celsius in Sindh, glaciers vanishing at an alarming rate, and reservoirs depleted amid unprecedented low rainfall, Pakistan’s struggle is a harbinger of what awaits countless vulnerable nations. The projected temperature anomalies, soaring 3 to 5 degrees Celsius above normal, and the intensifying heat island effect in cities like Karachi, where millions endure unbearable conditions, underscore a grim reality: The climate crisis is not a distant threat, but a present-day catastrophe, demanding immediate global attention and action, particularly for those on the frontlines
Despite being the fifth most climate-vulnerable nation, Pakistan remains conspicuously absent from global climate leadership. This lack of engagement in key international decision-making forums undermines its ability to secure vital financial resources and technical support. The stark disconnect between Pakistan’s escalating climate crisis and its limited influence on the global stage highlights an urgent need for proactive engagement in climate governance. Without assertive participation in platforms like COP, Pakistan risks missing out on crucial climate financing, adaptation assistance, and policy advocacy — deepening its vulnerability even further.
Compounding these environmental threats is Pakistan’s precarious economic situation. Heavily burdened by external debt — amounting to nearly $100 billion owed to institutions like the Asian Development Bank, IMF, and World Bank, as well as creditor nations including China, Japan, and the United States — the country is caught in a vicious cycle of financial distress and climate-induced disasters. The devastating floods of 2022 alone resulted in $30 billion in damages, further straining an already fragile economy. With each climate catastrophe pushing Pakistan deeper into debt, the country faces an unsustainable trajectory where repayment remains increasingly unattainable, and future disasters will only compound its financial instability.
A Financial and Diplomatic Deficit
Pakistan needs an estimated $340 billion by 2030 to build climate resilience, yet it receives less than 3 percent of the climate finance allocated to South Asia. This stark funding gap reflects a broader diplomatic shortfall. While India solidified its regional climate leadership by hosting COP8 in 2002, Pakistan has never made an attempt to host a COP summit. Concerns over security, financial constraints, and infrastructure limitations are frequently cited as barriers, yet the cost of inaction far outweighs these challenges. By not positioning itself as a host nation, Pakistan surrenders a critical platform to influence global climate policies that could directly benefit its vulnerable population.
Despite integrating climate action into national policies, financial and institutional hurdles persist. At the World Day of Glaciers event, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable economic growth and environmental stability. Likewise, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly emphasized the urgency of climate action. However, Pakistan’s limited participation in COP and U.N. climate negotiations has hindered its ability to secure essential financial aid and technological support. Without a stronger presence in global climate diplomacy, Pakistan remains sidelined in discussions that shape its climate future.
Missed Opportunities and COP Engagement
Pakistan’s participation in COP negotiations has been largely reactive rather than strategic. As a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, Pakistan remained a passive beneficiary with no emissions commitments. At COP15 in Copenhagen (2009), the country failed to secure meaningful access to the $100 billion climate finance mechanism. Even the much-publicized Billion Tree Tsunami Initiative at COP26 failed to gain significant policy traction. Structural weaknesses, including the absence of a permanent climate negotiation cell within the Foreign Office, minimal climate research funding (0.2 percent of GDP compared to Bangladesh’s 0.8 percent), and a lack of representation in UNFCCC leadership roles, have stymied Pakistan’s influence in climate diplomacy.
The 2022 floods, however, marked a turning point, demonstrating Pakistan’s potential to shape global climate discourse. Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s success in securing a Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 showcased Pakistan’s ability to negotiate effectively on the international stage. Yet this momentum quickly dissipated. By COP28, domestic political instability had once again sidelined Pakistan, preventing it from securing crucial financial commitments. This inconsistency underscores the urgent need for sustained diplomatic investment, technical capacity, and political stability to enhance Pakistan’s influence in climate negotiations.
A Call for Strategic Climate Diplomacy
Of the 29 COP summits held to date, 12 have been hosted in the Global South, yet no South Asian nation other than India has hosted one. This underrepresentation highlights the need for Pakistan to take a more proactive role in climate policymaking. With Brazil set to emphasize Amazon deforestation at COP30 in 2025, Pakistan has an opportunity to position itself as a host for COP33 or COP34, leveraging its own environmental crises to advocate for tailored climate solutions.
Pakistan must also establish a dedicated Climate Diplomatic Corps — a dynamic team of negotiators, scientists, and legal experts committed to ensuring policy continuity beyond political cycles. Unlike conventional bureaucratic structures, this corps should include youth leaders, women, corporate sector representatives, and experts in climate and sustainability, integrating grassroots perspectives into high-level climate diplomacy.
Furthermore, the creation of an Indus Climate Fund could help attract international finance and diaspora investments for locally driven adaptation projects. Pakistan should also position itself as a leading advocate for climate-vulnerable developing nations — countries that are too wealthy to qualify for grants yet too indebted to finance adaptation independently. By championing the concerns of such nations, Pakistan can carve out a stronger role in global climate negotiations, ensuring its voice is heard and its needs are addressed.
Breaking the Cycle of Inaction
Hosting a COP conference demands substantial financial resources, diplomatic influence, and logistical capacity — areas where Pakistan has historically struggled. However, its continued absence from the list of host nations underscores both financial constraints and a lack of strategic climate diplomacy. Without a stronger presence in global climate discussions, Pakistan risks missing out on essential funding, technology transfers, and policy influence necessary for its economic and environmental sustainability.
Pakistan’s path forward requires bold reforms. Building regional coalitions with Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Maldives would enhance its negotiating power on critical issues such as climate finance and adaptation support. Moreover, investing in climate research and fostering global partnerships would bolster credibility, allowing Pakistan to champion data-driven policies. Strengthening collaboration with South Asian nations, China, and the GCC on joint climate investments could further elevate its influence in global negotiations.
Beyond government efforts, universities, researchers, and the media must play a more active role in climate awareness and advocacy. Academic institutions should lead climate research, develop sustainable solutions, and foster innovation. Researchers must engage in policy discussions to ensure scientific findings translate into actionable strategies. Likewise, the media has a crucial role in shaping public perception and holding decision-makers accountable. Strengthening collaboration among these sectors is essential for bridging knowledge gaps, influencing policy, and mobilizing collective action against climate change.
To avoid another missed opportunity at COP30, Pakistan must take bold actions, such as proposing a debt-climate swap mechanism with IMF and G20 backing, formalizing a Climate Survival Pact with at least 15 vulnerable nations before November 2025, and securing financial commitments from friendly countries for COP33/34. Additionally, Pakistan should ensure at least $2 billion in new Loss and Damage allocations for Indus Basin adaptation projects.
Pakistan must move beyond pleading, and instead, pioneer financial innovation and forge strong coalitions. Only then can it rise as a strategic climate leader in the Global South and secure a sustainable future for all.
