224 disasters since 1980 have devastated lives and economy—2024 breaking records in heat and floods, calls for urgent climate action intensify.
Pakistan’s Economic Survey sounds the alarm: escalating climate change—marked by record heat, floods, and drought—is an existential threat. With 224 disasters since 1980, including $36.4 billion in flood damage, urgent climate resilience and global emission cuts are vital.
ISLAMABAD – 10 June 2025 – The newly released Economic Survey of Pakistan has issued a stark warning: climate change has evolved from looming challenge to an existential crisis. The document reveals a troubling rise in extreme weather events—224 since 1980—with the country now facing record-breaking heatwaves, unpredictable rainfall, and floods above the critical 1.5 °C global temperature threshold.
According to the survey, floods stand out as the most destructive, with 109 recorded incidents—including flash, riverine, and general floods—impacting over 100 million people and causing US$36.4 billion in damages (excluding broader economic losses). These losses underscore the deep inequity of climate impacts, as Pakistan contributes minimally to global emissions yet suffers disproportionately.
Meanwhile, heatwaves claimed 2,741 lives across 13 major events. Tropical cyclones, though fewer—only five—inflicted US$1.7 billion in damages, and two droughts affected 6.9 million people, costing US$247 million—a dire blow to the agrarian sector.
The report highlights 2024 as a particularly alarming year. It registered unprecedented heat extremes and rainfall anomalies, severely impacting different regions of Pakistan and accelerating the climate emergency.
These calamities—echoing the devastating 2010 and 2022 floods—have inflicted massive economic damage, triggered mass displacement, and demanded substantial capital rebuilding. The Economic Survey emphasizes that “Climate change is no longer a myth but an urgent reality” and stresses Pakistan’s urgent need for global emission mitigation paired with resilient national adaptation strategies.
To navigate this crisis, the survey recommends several key steps:
- Investing heavily in climate-resilient infrastructure
- Scaling up renewable energy capacity
- Deploying climate-smart agriculture and robust ecosystem restoration
These interventions must be supported by both global cooperation and domestic policy reform.
The survey concludes with a clarion call: despite minimal global emissions, Pakistan faces existential threats from climate instability. Transforming vulnerability into resilience requires decisive, coordinated action—both at home and internationally.
What You Can Do:
- Support renewable energy adoption and green technologies
- Advocate for climate-smart farming and flood defenses
- Push for international climate funds and debt relief tied to sustainability
The Economic Survey has warned that the escalating climate crisis poses an existential threat to Pakistan.
