Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Pakistan

The document provides a comprehensive review of Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change, focusing on the gap between national policy goals and actual implementation. It identifies critical risks to water, food, and energy security, and notes that while the government has established a National Climate Change Policy and an implementation framework, progress is hindered by weak governance, limited funding, and a lack of capacity at the provincial level following the devolution of responsibilities under the 18th Amendment. The report also catalogues 26 discrete adaptation projects, noting a heavy focus on research and water management, while highlighting significant gaps in health, forestry, and gender-sensitive adaptation.

• Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geography, including extensive arid areas and dependence on the glacier-fed Indus Basin, compounded by socioeconomic factors such as weak governance, rapid population growth, and gender inequality.
• Observed climatic changes include a rise in mean temperatures between 1900 and 2000 of 0.057°C per decade, with the most significant warming occurring in Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh.
• Future projections suggest a mean annual temperature increase of 3.8°C by 2100, though precipitation projections remain uncertain, with possibilities ranging from a 25% decrease to a 26% increase by 2071–2100.
• The 18th Amendment to the Constitution in 2010 devolved climate change responsibilities from the federal government to the provinces, but provincial governments lack the resources and capacity to implement adaptation plans.
• Pakistan has established a National Climate Change Policy (2012) and a Framework for Implementation (2013), but these have not yet resulted in a formal National Adaptation Plan or a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system.
• The agriculture sector is particularly vulnerable; for example, wheat production is projected to decline by 5–7% with a 1°C rise in temperature, and basmati rice production could decline by 15‘18% by 2080.
• A review of 26 discrete adaptation projects shows a concentration on water and watershed management (27% of projects) and disaster risk management (19%), with a strong emphasis on research over field implementation.
• There are significant gaps in adaptation programming for the health sector, forest ecosystems, biodiversity protection, and the specific needs of women.
• International climate finance for adaptation in Pakistan is modest compared to other South Asian countries; as of April 2015, only 35% of the US$20.8 million received from dedicated climate funds was directed toward adaptation.
• Pakistan ranks 122nd out of 178 countries on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (ND-GAIN), reflecting high vulnerability and low readiness to implement adaptation actions.

APA

Parry, J.-E. (2016). Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Pakistan. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55959-pakistan.pdf

Chicago

Parry, Jo-Ellen. Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Pakistan. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2016. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55959-pakistan.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Parry |first1=Jo-Ellen |title=Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Pakistan |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2016 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55959-pakistan.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{parry2016review, author = {Parry, Jo-Ellen}, title = {{Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action in Pakistan}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/idl-55959-pakistan.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }