Countering Climate Change Through Enlarging The ‘Green Alliance’ Framework On Strategic Foundations Between Pakistan And US – OpEd
The contemporary times are facing unprecedented challenges to human survival. The pressing economic fallout, war zones, and the struggle between great powers pose a serious threat to human security overall. The story of human misery does not end here; the climate that shapes the entire globe is degrading at an alarming rate.
The world is facing extreme weather phenomena due to climate change, resulting in significant economic and human losses. Pakistan is among the top ten most vulnerable countries to climate change globally. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the fact that Pakistan is witnessing unprecedented changes in its climate, particularly in terms of heatwaves in Karachi and recurring floods in 2022 and 2025.
Another critical factor here is the glacial melting that has caused flash flooding in the northern areas of Pakistan. The losses to crops alone in 2022, due to floods, were $40 billion, affecting 4.4 million acres of crops. There were 1700 human lives lost, and 33 million people were affected. The current monsoon season was exacerbated by climate change. The death toll remained 1006 lives since June 26, and 2.5 million people were evacuated from Punjab and Sindh according to the Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA). Additionally, it is estimated that the damage could exceed $30 billion in economic terms. The urgency of the climate crisis cannot be overstated; immediate action is necessary to mitigate its impact.
Pakistan’s overall economic profile falls under that of lower-middle-income countries. Over the past few years, Pakistan has faced a political crisis, and the economy has been brutally hit. In such a scenario, the natural disasters that occur with each passing year are causing a severe economic shock to Pakistan. Islamabad is strategically moving forward on other fronts by maintaining good relations with major powers such as the USA and China.
There is a dire need for Pakistan to establish a strategic partnership with the USA, with countering climate change as one of its key pillars. Both countries are already advancing collaboration under the framework of the ‘Green Alliance’. It aims to promote climate-friendly and sustainable agriculture and investment in Pakistan. The potential of this partnership is immense, as it could significantly mitigate the impact of climate change on Pakistan. However, the scale of the crisis Islamabad is facing in terms of recurring floods, heatwaves, and glacial melting requires widening the scope of the US-Pakistan partnership to a level where strategic decision-making and cooperation should be aimed. The contours must entail the preservation of glaciers melting in Pakistan, as Pakistan is located in the Third Pole region, which would be possible through scientific collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two countries.
The importance of scientific collaboration cannot be overstated, as it is a key factor in understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change. Such a partnership will help to retain glaciers and water resources of the Third Pole Network. The preservation of glaciers will help to curb flash flooding that inundates the Indus River as it originates from the Third Pole. On the other hand, Pakistan is on the cusp of experiencing an energy revolution in terms of renewables, leveraging solar energy in both households and industry.
Investment and practical training, coupled with the regulatory frameworks, are critical for the sustainability and continuation of this revolution in Pakistan. Washington is already assisting Pakistan in achieving its goal of 60 percent renewable energy by 2030 under the National Adaptation Plan, and the US is the second-largest producer of renewable energy in the World. Islamabad can emulate the US strategies in adopting solar energy, not only attracting US foreign capital but also providing a practical solution.
Pakistan has manifested human security as central to its National Action Plan 2022-2026. Climate change has made food security vulnerable in Pakistan, a predominantly agrarian society, by causing damage to its crops, including wheat, rice, and maize, which have been severely impacted. According to the provincial disaster management agency, 1.8 million acres of rice, cotton, and maize farmland in Punjab were swept away by recent floods. Therefore, climate-smart agriculture is crucial to Pakistan’s food security. It is consequently essential to develop climate change-resilient strategies to address food shortages.
Pakistan and the US can collaborate in this area by establishing scientific partnerships focused on enhancing the value chain growth and stability of two climate-smart crops essential to the region. It can be achieved by emulating projects initiated by the US, such as the diversification of crops in Madagascar.
The enhanced strategic partnership between the US and Pakistan in countering climate change can help change the prevailing perception that security and terrorism dominate, often overshadowing geopolitics and eroding trust between them. However, the cooperation on climate change would elevate mutual inclusivity, creating long-term resilience and years of support among both partners. Consequently, both parties would create more opportunities for trust, knowledge sharing, and research by fostering bilateral relations.
Pakistan and China are already engaged in climate change initiatives under different projects. The American engagement with Pakistan can counterweight China’s influence on climate change efforts in Pakistan. Such a balance would not create any irritants, such as those we are accustomed to, in terms of great power competition in the hard-core security domain; instead, it would make a greater scope for parallel partnerships with comparative advantage.
Pakistan and the USA can enhance their bilateral relations by strategically engaging in countering climate change. Their partnership cannot only mitigate the impact of climate change but also improve the scope of the ‘Green Alliance’ framework on strategic foundations, opening up new avenues for growth and development.
About the authors:
- Dr. Tauseef Javed currently serves as a Regional Research Associate at Indo-Pacific Studies Center (IPSC). He formerly worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Strategic and Contemporary Research( CSCR), Islamabad.
- Kayla Everdeen is a freelance columnist
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