Pakistan’s $1.2 Trillion Climate Time Bomb

British Deputy Head of Mission Martin Dawson stressed that Pakistan faces potential climate-related losses of $1.2 trillion by 2050 unless urgent action is taken. Speaking at the 60th Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition in Karachi, Dawson underscored the need for climate finance to counteract the escalating impact of environmental changes.

He unveiled the UK’s new Climate Finance programme, designed to engage half a billion people in adopting sustainable technologies and practices. This initiative builds on the UK’s prior contributions, which have helped over 1.5 million Pakistanis bolster resilience to extreme weather. Dawson also highlighted efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to strengthen water systems in climate-vulnerable regions.

Addressing Pakistan’s pressing biodiversity crisis, Dawson lamented threats to iconic species like snow leopards and hog deer caused by habitat loss, illegal trade, and climate pressures. He stressed the urgency of combating both environmental and ecological challenges, noting Karachi’s alarming loss of 200 hectares of mangroves between 2010 and 2022.

The event, a collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London, marked the exhibition’s first appearance in Pakistan, showcasing 100 wildlife photographs across Karachi and Lahore. Dawson called for collective efforts to safeguard Pakistan’s unique biodiversity for future generations.