Pakistan faces an impending climate catastrophe, Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, warned today in a keynote address at the National Conference – Pakistan’s Final Warning: Climate Calamity or Collective Action.
With Pakistan ranked #1 on the Germanwatch’s Climate Risk Index 2025, Rehman outlined five crucial steps to address what she termed a ‘cascading polycrisis. She stressed the need to connect extreme weather events with broader climate patterns. Without acknowledging this link, she argued, sustained action is impossible. Despite the devastating 2022 floods and scorching heatwaves, she observed a concerning lack of governmental response. She criticized the lack of budgetary adjustments and the tendency to dismiss climate change as mere ‘weather.’
The Senator emphasized the need for concrete measures, not just rhetoric. She called for scaling up risk reduction strategies, highlighting early warning systems as a fundamental human right. Rehman compared Pakistan’s struggles to recent events in Texas, USA, where inadequate infrastructure hampered flood response.
Rehman noted Pakistan”s lack of preparedness for the necessary climate investments. Securing sustained financial commitments, not just symbolic gestures, is crucial, she argued. She also reminded the international community of their obligations towards climate justice.
A unified, nationwide approach is essential, she stated, involving all levels of government, businesses, educational institutions, communities, and the media. Public-private partnerships must be strengthened and empowered. Effective communication is vital for a sustained national response, involving clear messaging at all levels.
The private sector”s participation in developing a comprehensive communication strategy is key. Rehman criticized the tendency to continue with business as usual, urging for outcomes-driven communication, not just superficial gestures.
Finally, Rehman prioritized water conservation as Pakistan’s most urgent climate action item. She highlighted the nation”s water stress, citing both excessive flooding and scarcity. The Senator stressed the need for widespread rainwater harvesting, moving beyond expensive large-scale dam projects. She urged for the protection of the Indus River from encroachment, contamination, and upstream exploitation.
Senator Rehman concluded by emphasizing water’s vital importance and the finite nature of this resource. She called for collective action to avert disaster, presenting a stark choice between catastrophe and decisive action.