The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan

The document argues that while climate change drives extreme weather in Pakistan, such as the 2022 floods, the resulting devastation and security risks are multiplied by systemic governance failures, socioeconomic inequality, and political instability. It highlights a pattern where comprehensive strategic documents are produced following disasters, but implementation is hindered by a lack of localized governance and a political focus on short-term power over long-term resilience.

• The 2022 floods in Pakistan were driven by extreme rainfall—approximately 350 percent above the long-term average between June and August—but the resulting disaster was exacerbated by poor governance and existing socioeconomic disparities.
• Climate disasters in Pakistan act as 'threat multipliers' for national security, contributing to anti-government sentiment and forcing the diversion of military resources from primary deployments to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). In 2010, 30,000 to 60,000 troops were diverted, and in 2022, over 7,500 troops were deployed for HADR.
• The 2022 floods disproportionately affected the poor, pushing an estimated 8.4 to 9.1 million additional people into poverty. This vulnerability was compounded by the instability of social safety nets, such as the Ehsaas program, following the ousting of Prime Minister Imran Khan in April 2022.
• Despite the production of comprehensive strategic frameworks—including the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) estimating damages over USD 14.9 billion, the Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Framework (4RF), and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP)—implementation is failing due to a lack of localized governance and a top-down approach that excludes frontline communities.

APA

Adil, A., & Haider, F. (2023). The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/10/25/the-interdependence-of-climate-security-and-good-governance-a-case-study-from-pakistan/

Chicago

Adil, Ameera, and Faraz Haider. The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2023. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/10/25/the-interdependence-of-climate-security-and-good-governance-a-case-study-from-pakistan/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Adil |first1=Ameera |last2=Haider |first2=Faraz |title=The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=25 October 2023 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/10/25/the-interdependence-of-climate-security-and-good-governance-a-case-study-from-pakistan/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{adil2023interdependence, author = {Adil, Ameera and Haider, Faraz}, title = {{The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/10/25/the-interdependence-of-climate-security-and-good-governance-a-case-study-from-pakistan/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }