Center for Global & Strategic Studies Islamabad Pakistan’s Efforts to deal with Environmental Issues By Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd), Executive Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad Published on 21st September 2020 Pakistan is among the countries which are highly vulnerable to the catastrophic impacts of environmental degradation and climate changes. Unfortunately, our security insight is limited to the traditional security threats only and the dangers lurking in the shape of non -traditional security challenges like climate change are causing irrevocable environmental challenges for Pakistan. The challenges caused by the climate change are posing serious threats to the health, agriculture, and overall 1 www.cgss.com.pk
[email protected] economy of the country. Pakistan has been declared among the top ten countries most affected by climate change. Environmental Challenges to Pakistan Pakistan is among the countries who are worst affected by the climate change and unfortunately, due to lack of resources to mitigate these issues the country is exposed to bear the brunt of natural calamities and many environmental challenges and vulnerabilities. Some major factors to cause these environmental 2 www.cgss.com.pk
[email protected] catastrophes are carbon emission, deforestation, population explosion, encroachments, floods, earthquakes, droughts, and cyclones, etc. • Natural Resource Degradation Pakistan’s population is rapidly increasing resulting in the depletion of natural resources. The industrial sector in Pakistan which provides more than one-fourth of the country’s economic output and two-fifth of its job opportunities is highly dependent on the natural resources of the country. Therefore, to achieve sustainable economic growth, there is a high demand for already scarce natural resources.