Climate Change as Security Threat in Pakistan: The Rise of Eco-Geopolitics

Abstract

This paper explores the climate change-security nexus in Pakistan through the prism of eco-geopolitics. Climate change has been playing the role of a threat multiplier by aggravating the predisposition of socio-economic vulnerabilities, resource scarcity, and governance challenges. Although Pakistan has contributed very little to global emissions, recurring floods and glacial melt have posed heavy pressure on human, national, and regional security. In this respect, it is important to interpret it from a security perspective. A qualitative approach was applied going through policy documents and secondary literature on climate, security and geopolitics. The findings indicate that climate-induced disasters further deteriorate food and water insecurity and institutional strain to reshape the security landscape. Eco-geopolitics presents a broader framework than military-centric traditional security approaches. The paper concludes by calling for incorporating climate adaptation into national security planning, focusing on human security, and expanding regional cooperation on transboundary environmental challenges.