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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged Pakistanis to make environmental protection and climate resilience a national priority, saying the country remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change despite contributing only a small share to global greenhouse gas emissions. In a message on X marking World Environment Day, Sharif said Pakistan stood with the international community in reaffirming its commitment to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development. &quot;The preservation of our environment is a shared global responsibility,&quot; the prime minister said, emphasizing that international cooperation and sustained commitment are essential to securing an environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient future. Referring to this year&#39;s World Environment Day theme, &quot;Climate Action,&quot; Sharif said urgent and coordinated global efforts are needed to address growing environmental challenges. He pointed to devastating floods, prolonged droughts, extreme heatwaves, melting glaciers, water scarcity and worsening air pollution as evidence that climate change is no longer a distant threat but an immediate reality affecting millions of people worldwide. Pakistan has repeatedly ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and has suffered significant human and economic losses from extreme weather events in recent years. Sharif said the government remains committed to expanding renewable energy, restoring forests, conserving biodiversity, improving water resource management, reducing pollution, advancing climate-smart agriculture and promoting green industries. He added that efforts are also underway to restore natural ecosystems and strengthen environmental sustainability across the country. The prime minister highlighted the role of young people in addressing climate challenges, saying their energy, innovation and capabilities would be critical in building a greener and more resilient Pakistan. &quot;By equipping them with knowledge, technology and opportunities, we can cultivate environmental awareness and lay the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous society,&quot; he said. Sharif called on citizens, institutions, farmers and business stakeholders to adopt environmentally responsible practices and support conservation efforts.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2062715505996423407&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4bdf8d0a6df81ffc385a606156c16a883ac24bb7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 794px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> He stressed the importance of water and energy conservation, afforestation and wildlife protection, urging Pakistanis to renew their commitment to safeguarding the environment for future generations. &quot;Let us reiterate our shared resolve to build a greener, healthier, cleaner and climate-resilient Pakistan,&quot; he said. President on World Environment DayPresident Asif Ali Zardari in a message on X, on Friday, reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to international cooperation on climate and environmental issues. He said &#39;We will continue to support efforts aimed at ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, disaster preparedness and climate-resilient development.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2062835053449892255&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4bdf8d0a6df81ffc385a606156c16a883ac24bb7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on climate crisisIn a message issued on X, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan joined the international community in recognizing the urgent need to protect the planet and strengthen collective efforts to address the climate crisis. Dar noted that Pakistan remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, facing recurring floods, accelerating glacial melt, droughts, heat waves and growing water stress. Despite these challenges, he said the country has continued to demonstrate resilience.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2062780831492407473&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4bdf8d0a6df81ffc385a606156c16a883ac24bb7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 901px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> Dar also expressed appreciation to Azerbaijan for hosting this year&rsquo;s World Environment Day, commending the country&rsquo;s leadership in promoting international cooperation and constructive dialogue on global environmental issues.

Natural landscape of Pakistan - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Climate & Environment

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif marks World Environment Day by urging Pakistanis to prioritize climate action, environmental protection and sustainability amid growing climate challenges.

On World Environment Day, Pakistan reaffirms commitment to sustainability

ISLAMABAD: India is among the world&rsquo;s most heat-exposed nations, with a single day of severe heat potentially causing about 3,400 deaths and a five-day heatwave causing nearly 30,000 deaths nationwide, according to the academic journal Frontiers in Environmental Health.&nbsp; The peer-reviewed study, authored by Piyush Narang and Ashok Gadgil of UC Berkeley&#39;s Goldman School of Public Policy, said official heat-related death figures capture only a fraction of the true toll. The all-India heat-related excess mortality reported in the press and by government agencies remains about 800 per year, meaning a single extreme day kills more than four times what officials count across an entire year, according to the journal. &quot;Heat mortality remains substantially undercounted,&quot; the study said, adding that many deaths triggered or worsened by extreme temperatures are often recorded under other medical causes rather than heat exposure itself. &quot;Our results suggest that even a single day of extreme heat yields thousands of excess deaths, and a multi-day heatwave results in tens of thousands of excess deaths,&quot; the researchers wrote. Uneven distribution across IndiaTo find the correct estimates, researchers combined findings from a 2024 multi-city epidemiological study covering ten Indian cities with district-level mortality records from the Civil Registration System and 2024 population projections.&nbsp; They further matched each of India&#39;s 765 districts to the most climatically similar study city and used the city&#39;s established heat-mortality relationship to estimate excess deaths from one extreme-heat day and from five consecutive extreme-heat days. The study found that the burden is unevenly distributed, with populous northern states experiencing the highest mortality rates.&nbsp; Uttar Pradesh alone was estimated to account for more than 8,000 excess deaths, followed by Bihar (3,615), Madhya Pradesh (2,964), Rajasthan (2,664), and Gujarat (2,354).&nbsp; According to the study, these five states together hold 43% of India&#39;s population but account for more than 60% of the projected national heat mortality. Fiscal capacityThe study also questioned India&rsquo;s economic resources. The researchers calculated a GDP-weighted Gini coefficient of 0.432 &mdash; double the population-weighted figure &mdash; to show that the five states bearing the highest heatwave mortality burden account for 66% of national excess deaths while contributing only 29% of India&#39;s GDP. &quot;This divergence between population-weighted and GDP-weighted inequality demonstrates that heatwave mortality risk is not merely proportional to population size but is structurally concentrated in states with lower economic output, precisely those with the least fiscal capacity to invest in adaptation,&quot; the researchers concluded. &nbsp;A precedent of underreporting&nbsp;The study further reports a well-documented pattern of official undercounting. An online data compilation by Heatwatch and the Veditum India Foundation identified 733 heatstroke-related deaths reported in news media between March and July 2023, while official figures from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported only 360 heatstroke deaths during the same period, according to the journal.&nbsp; The futureMoving ahead, India&rsquo;s climate conditions are only going to get worse, with the country expected to experience more intense, longer heat waves, according to the journal. &quot;As an illustrative scenario only, if each district were to experience five heatwaves of five-day duration each summer &mdash; around-number planning assumption, not an empirically derived frequency &mdash; the implied national excess mortality would reach approximately 150,000 deaths per year,&quot; the study said.&nbsp; According to the study, only a small fraction of India&rsquo;s population (about 8%) has access to air conditioning. As a result, a growing share of India&rsquo;s population is exposed to physiologically unsafe heat conditions during the summer months.&nbsp; The authors called for stronger heat-action plans, improved early-warning systems, and better mortality tracking, warning that current reporting mechanisms may not reflect the true impact of extreme temperatures on public health. &quot;As extreme heat events become more frequent and intense under climate change, failure to act on such evidence is likely to result in continued large and avoidable loss of life,&quot; the study said.

People drink sweetened water distributed by volunteers along a street on a hot summer day in Amritsar on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP)

India

The study, conducted by UC Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy, says official heat-related death figures capture only a fraction of the true toll. It found that five states account for more than 60% of projected heat mortality despite comprising 43% of India's population. 

India's heatwaves kill 3,400 in a single day, four times the annual official toll: Study

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Two women leaders were recognized for their outstanding contributions to climate action and environmental stewardship on Thursday at the fourth edition of the Pakistan Gender Climate Award (GCA), held at a local hotel in Islamabad. The 2026 award was presented to Dr Zillay Mariam Sohail for her pioneering efforts in transforming waste into sustainable value chains and promoting circular economy solutions, and to Songul Jamal for her leadership in marine ecosystem conservation and environmental awareness among coastal communities, according to a press release issued by UNDP on Wednesday.&nbsp; Each recipient received a cash prize of one million Pakistani rupees. Pakistan Gender Climate Award Established by the Embassy of France in 2023, the Pakistan Gender Climate Award honors women whose leadership and innovation are helping communities address climate challenges, strengthen resilience and promote sustainable development.&nbsp; Since its inception, the initiative has recognized 10 women climate champions across the country. This year&#39;s competition attracted a record 352 applications from across Pakistan, reflecting growing momentum behind women-led climate initiatives nationwide. The awards ceremony brought together representatives from government, development organizations, civil society, academia, media and the diplomatic community. Climate-related challenges&nbsp; In the keynote address, Senator Sherry Rehman underscored the importance of women&#39;s leadership in climate action, noting that women play a critical role in responding to climate-related challenges despite facing social and economic barriers. &quot;Women are not only affected by climate change but also play a key role in responding to it and, despite social and economic challenges, lead emergency response and recovery efforts to drive positive change,&quot; Rehman said. Federal Secretary for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Aisha Moriani praised the Embassy of France and partner organizations for supporting women&#39;s leadership in climate action. &quot;The role of women is very visible in society. Women are participating very actively to address the integrated challenges of climate change and are not just facing the impact but are part of the solution,&quot; Moriani said. French Ambassador Nicolas Galey highlighted France&#39;s commitment to gender equality and climate action, emphasizing that climate change disproportionately affects women and girls. &quot;France&#39;s foreign policy places both the promotion of gender equality and climate action at the forefront of its priorities,&quot; Galey said. &quot;Our feminist diplomacy strategy recognizes that climate change and related disasters disproportionately affect women.&quot; Inclusive climate action UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Dr Samuel Rizk stressed the importance of inclusive climate action and praised the achievements of the award recipients. &quot;The women we honor today already know the data, the impact and the differentiated toll climate change and environmental degradation have on women and girls and communities at large,&quot; Rizk said.&nbsp; &quot;More importantly, they have already taken action.&quot; The event featured two panel discussions moderated by Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz and senior journalist Arifa Noor.&nbsp; The discussions focused on opportunities, challenges and pathways for increasing women&#39;s participation in climate leadership and decision-making processes across Pakistan. Amplifying voices of women Aisha Khan of the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change, which administers the award program, said the initiative serves as an important platform to amplify women&#39;s voices as climate risks continue to intensify. &quot;As climate risks continue to intensify, the Pakistan Gender Climate Award serves as an important platform for amplifying the voices of women and inspiring a new generation of changemakers working towards a more resilient and sustainable future,&quot; Khan said. The Pakistan Gender Climate Award is supported by the Embassy of France, the French Development Agency, the United Nations Development Program, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, UN Women and the Aga Khan Foundation and is implemented by Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change.

The fourth edition of the Pakistan Gender Climate Award (GCA) culminated in an awards ceremony at Serena Hotel, Islamabad, recognizing two exceptional women leaders for their contributions to climate action and environmental stewardship. 

Pakistan's fourth Gender Climate Award honored women for their outstanding contributions to climate action, highlighting the growing impact of women-led environmental initiatives across the country.

Women climate leaders honored at Pakistan Gender Climate Award 

LONDON: Climate change experts urged the UK to set maximum temperature rules for workplaces and adapt hospitals and schools to a warming planet in a report published Wednesday. The report by the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which advises the government on adapting to global warming, said Britain should set &quot;measurable&quot; targets to reduce the effects of climate change. Experts identified the key climate change threats facing the UK as heat, flooding and drought, with 92% of homes &quot;likely to overheat&quot; by 2050 and acute water supply shortfalls without urgent government action. &quot;The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists today and will be increasingly distant in years to come,&quot; the CCC report notes, following concerns in recent heatwaves that the UK&#39;s infrastructure is not prepared for higher temperatures. The country, which recorded its hottest year on record in 2025, has seen extreme weather events intensify in recent years, with unprecedented heat waves, floods that have caused significant damage, and long spells of drought. Four of the UK&#39;s last five years now appear in the top five warmest years since 1884, and all of the top 10 hottest years will now have taken place in the last two decades. &#39;Increased ambition&#39; In its fourth report advising the government, the CCC noted that efforts to limit global warming to below 2C should not prevent the UK from &quot;preparing&quot; for the consequences of global warming. Countries agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to try to limit global warming to &quot;well below&quot; 2C, and aim for a 1.5C cap, which scientists warn is increasingly unattainable as human-driven climate change accelerates. The CCC report urges setting &quot;maximum working temperature regulations&quot; to protect workers, installing cooling infrastructure like air conditioners and heat pumps, building flood defenses and investing in reservoirs, among other recommendations. It did not recommend what the maximum temperature should be set at. Britain does not have any rules for maximum temperatures yet, and the CCC pointed to examples of countries like Spain, where the maximum legal indoor working temperature is 27C. It advises the government to have &quot;increased ambition&quot; and estimates that investment of around &pound;11 billion ($14.7 billion) a year from the public and private sector is needed. The country has set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 81% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels and is aiming to be carbon neutral by the middle of the century.

Europe

The Climate Change Committee urges the UK to set strict maximum workplace temperatures and prepare critical infrastructure for intensifying heat, flooding and drought with an estimated £11 billion annual investment.

UK climate advisers urge setting maximum working temperature

ISLAMABAD: The European Union&rsquo;s climate monitor has said on Friday that ocean temperatures are edging toward record highs as conditions shift toward a potentially powerful El Nino weather pattern.&nbsp; Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) said sea surface temperatures in recent days were just shy of the all-time highs of 2024, and May looked set to break its own record. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a matter of days before we are back in record-breaking ocean SSTs (sea surface temperatures) again,&quot; Burgess, strategic lead for climate at ECMWF, told AFP. The Copernicus Climate Change Service said daily sea surface temperatures in April &ldquo;gradually inched&rdquo; toward near-record highs, reflecting the transition to El Nino expected in the coming months. Copernicus, overseen by the ECMWF, said sea surface temperatures in April were the second-highest of the measured, with marine heatwaves breaking records across the tropical Pacific and the United States. Last month, the World Meteorological Organisation said El Nino conditions could develop as soon as May to July. One phase of a natural climate cycle in Pacific Ocean temperatures and trade winds, El Nino influences global weather and increases the likelihood of drought, heavy rainfall and other climate extremes. It also adds heat to a planet already warmed by burning fossil fuels. The last El Nino helped make 2023 and 2024 the second- and first-hottest years on record, respectively. Some weather agencies forecast the coming event will be even stronger, possibly rivalling a &ldquo;super&rdquo; El Nino three decades ago. Zeke Hausfather, a scientist at Berkeley Earth, an independent climate research organisation, wrote last week that a strong El Nino could significantly raise the chances of 2027 becoming the hottest year ever recorded. Burgess said it was still too early to predict the event&#39;s intensity with confidence, as forecasts made during the Northern Hemisphere spring could be unreliable. But she said, regardless of its strength, this El Nino would not go unnoticed. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re likely to see 2027 exceed 2024 for the warmest year on record,&rdquo; she said. El Nino&rsquo;s impact on global temperatures typically comes the year after its peak, she added. Extreme sea temperaturesCopernicus said the upturn in ocean temperatures over March and April indicated the transition from neutral conditions to El Nino was underway. Scientists stress that El Nino alone is not driving the extraordinary ocean warmth or its knock-on effects, such as coral bleaching and marine heatwaves. The phenomenon is unfolding against a backdrop of long-term global warming, caused primarily by greenhouse gas emissions, with oceans absorbing around 90 percent of the excess heat generated by human activity. In its monthly bulletin, Copernicus said April was the third-hottest globally and 1.43 degrees Celsius above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial benchmark. Arctic sea ice remained near record lows in April while Europe endured varied conditions that set the stage for a hotter and drier summer at risk of drought or wildfires, it said. &ldquo;We just keep seeing extremes. Every month we have more data that the climate change impact is creating these extreme events,&rdquo; said Burgess.

Climate

Samantha Burgess from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts said sea surface temperatures in recent days were almost all-time highs of 2024, and May looked set to break its own record.


Sea temperatures near all-time highs as El Nino looms: EU monitor

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Musadik Malik on Wednesday proposed a &ldquo;Green University&rdquo; initiative and wider international research partnerships to empower young innovators to tackle the country&rsquo;s mounting environmental challenges. He announced the plan while addressing the opening session of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference in Islamabad. He said the initiative would focus on applied and commercially viable climate research developed in collaboration with Italian academic institutions. Malik said discussions with Italian officials in recent months had laid the groundwork for joint research programs in which Pakistani and Italian students would work together under the supervision of leading international scholars, including Nobel laureates. Pakistan&rsquo;s large youth population, about two-thirds of the country, represents a major opportunity to drive innovation in climate solutions, Malik said. While students at top universities have strong ideas and technical knowledge, they often lack the resources and pathways to turn those ideas into practical outcomes, he added. Opportunity to work with renowned professors, Nobel laureatesReferring to recent discussions with Italian officials, Malik said Pakistani and Italian students would jointly conduct research projects under the initiative, with internationally renowned professors, including Nobel laureates, supervising the work. &ldquo;It was a rolling conversation in Italy that I had just a few months ago, and now we are putting together a framework,&rdquo; he said. The minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s young population possessed the imagination, scientific understanding and determination needed to develop climate solutions, stressing that the government was committed to providing them with resources, platforms and institutional support.&nbsp; Malik noted that about two-thirds of Pakistan&rsquo;s population was youth and lauded the quality of education provided by several universities across the country. &ldquo;Our young people have ideas, technology, science and passion. Most importantly, there are still stars in their eyes and they still believe the world can be changed,&rdquo; he said. He said students graduating from institutions including GIK, LUMS and other leading universities had strong ideas and innovative thinking, but often lacked opportunities and pathways to implement them. &ldquo;We have to give them that pathway,&rdquo; he added. The minister announced that the government would organize quarterly competitions to support students and young innovators working on climate-related technologies, applied science and sustainability solutions.&nbsp; Funding availableAccording to him, young researchers and entrepreneurs would receive funding to pursue ideas that could help address challenges related to water, environment, clean energy and climate resilience. &ldquo;It is their air. They are breathing; they will find the solution,&rdquo; he remarked while referring to the younger generation&rsquo;s ability to tackle environmental challenges. Encouraging experimentation and innovation, the minister said young people should be allowed to take risks without fear of failure.&nbsp; The minister said the government was also working on a &ldquo;Greenfield Pakistan Pitch&rdquo; initiative to connect innovative climate ideas with investment opportunities and commercial support. He said Pakistan&rsquo;s climate-related challenges could become the foundation for globally relevant solutions.&nbsp; &ldquo;The child who solves Pakistan&rsquo;s water problem can solve Africa&rsquo;s water problem too,&rdquo; he remarked, adding that billion-dollar ideas could emerge from Pakistani youth. Highlighting the unequal global impact of climate change, Malik said Pakistan contributed less than 1% to global carbon dioxide emissions despite being among the countries most severely affected by floods, environmental degradation and worsening air quality.&nbsp; Speaking about the impact of air pollution on life expectancy, he cited studies suggesting that polluted air could reduce average life expectancy by several years. &#39;Those suffering are not causing it&#39;The minister said around 10 countries were responsible for nearly 78% of global emissions, while communities in areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan continued to suffer the consequences despite contributing almost nothing to the problem. &ldquo;Those suffering are not causing it, and those causing it are not suffering,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; Questioning the global response to climate change, Malik asked whether the issue was one of &ldquo;rights, justice or political will.&rdquo; The minister said climate change was not only a question of environmental policy but also one of imagination, responsibility and commitment toward future generations.

Environmental protection (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Climate minister Musadik Malik announces global research partnerships to empower Pakistani youth to develop practical climate solutions and drive innovation.

Govt to empower youth-led climate innovation through Green University initiative: Minister 

BANGKOK: Already reeling from the effects of conflict in the Middle East, Asia is now facing the prospect of strong El Ni&ntilde;o conditions that could spike energy demand, sap hydropower, and damage crops. El Ni&ntilde;o is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure, and rainfall patterns. Last week, the United Nations&#39; weather and climate agency said El Ni&ntilde;o conditions could develop as soon as May to July. The World Meteorological Organization, meanwhile, said early signs indicated the event could be particularly strong, with some dubbing the impending event a &quot;super El Ni&ntilde;o&quot;, although the term is not used by scientists. That is not good news for Asia, parts of which are traditionally heavily affected by the heatwaves, drought, and heavy rains that El Ni&ntilde;o can bring. The phenomenon essentially shifts traditional weather patterns around, for example, moving rain that normally falls over Indonesia out to sea, leaving the country vulnerable to drought and wildfires. El Ni&ntilde;o occurs around every two to seven years and is forecast based on sea temperatures. &quot;The subsurface anomaly that we&#39;re seeing so far is pretty strong,&quot; said Peter van Rensch, a climate scientist at Australia&#39;s Monash University. &quot;It does look a little bit like what we saw in the 1997/98 event, and that was probably the strongest El Ni&ntilde;o,&quot; he told AFP. There are still plenty of uncertainties, and van Rensch cautioned that an El Ni&ntilde;o might not develop at all. Catastrophic impacts&nbsp;But the 1997 El Ni&ntilde;o brought catastrophic impacts, including extreme drought and devastating wildfires in Indonesia that burned through millions of hectares and created regional air pollution. Authorities there have already identified peatlands at risk, and warned the country could see its lowest rainfall in 30 years. The warnings come amid Asia buckling under the strain of an energy supply crunch and fears of shortages of fertilizer and other industrial and agricultural components that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway since the United States and Israel launched attacks on the country on Feb 28, disrupting global fuel supplies. Hotter weather will strain energy grids already facing fuel shortages as populations seek to cool homes and workplaces, warned Haneea Isaad, an energy finance specialist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. &quot;For countries that are highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas deliveries and other trade, strained supply will lead to further fuel rationing, demand-side management, and a reduction in economic activities ... impacting overall GDP growth,&quot; she told AFP. The droughts that El Ni&ntilde;o can bring to parts of the region also pose a threat to countries that are highly dependent on hydropower, said Dinita Setyawati, senior energy analyst for Asia at the Ember thinktank. &quot;Most ASEAN countries use a lot of hydropower,&quot; she warned, highlighting Mekong countries, Nepal, and parts of Malaysia as particularly vulnerable because of their dependence on the sector. The risks were laid bare in 2022, when a heatwave in China saw hydropower generation in Sichuan fall by over 50%, creating shortages that impacted households and industry alike. Agriculture risks&nbsp;Hotter, drier conditions will also pose new risks to agriculture, already under pressure as the ongoing conflict raises the costs of fertilizer and fuel for farming equipment. &quot;If crop prices do not rise enough to offset these higher input and shipping costs, producer margins will be squeezed, raising the likelihood of lower fertilizer application and weaker yields,&quot; warned BMI, a unit of the Fitch Solutions research company. &quot;This would intensify food price inflation and worsen food insecurity, especially in import-dependent and climate-vulnerable markets.&quot; In some parts of Asia, an El Ni&ntilde;o can bring bouts of heavy rain and trigger flooding, which could affect sectors such as southern China&#39;s late-season rice harvest, added Isaad. How climate change affects the emergence and strength of El Ni&ntilde;os remains poorly understood. But research shows climate change itself will bring more frequent, intense heatwaves, as well as sudden heavy rainfall that can cause flooding. So experts said countries across the region should further insulate energy systems against more frequent disruptive weather events by diversifying and greening their grids. &quot;Solar and wind, coupled with batteries, provide a more resilient infrastructure than a centralized fossil infrastructure,&quot; said Setyawati.

Farmers harvest carrots at a field on the outskirts of Lahore on April 19, 2026 (AFP)

Asia

Already reeling from the effects of conflict in the Middle East, Asia now faces the prospect of a strong El Niño that could spike energy demand, sap hydropower, and damage crops.

Asia faces ‘super El Niño’ risk as conflict strains energy, food supplies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday called for collective action on climate change ahead of Earth Hour 2026, urging citizens to adopt more sustainable habits. This year&#39;s &quot;Give an Hour for Earth&quot; campaign, which is observed globally through a symbolic lights-off hour, encourages people to consider how their everyday decisions impact the environment and to take action beyond the gesture. President urges reflection, sustainable livingIn a message issued to mark the occasion, the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, said environmental protection requires&nbsp;collective effort,&nbsp;emphasizing that individual acts, when combined, can have a significant impact. He noted that a country responsible for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions continues to bear a disproportionate share of climate consequences.&nbsp; &quot;The pressures we place on natural systems are steadily reducing the space in which life can sustain itself,&quot; the president said.&nbsp; The statement pointed to recent floods, heatwaves, and droughts as clear indicators of escalating environmental stress, affecting agriculture, water availability, and urban life. Zardari called for development strategies that stay within environmental limits, pointing to the need for more responsible energy use, sustainable consumption patterns, and climate-conscious industrial and agricultural practices.&nbsp; He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the Paris Agreement and said climate resilience remains a key focus of national planning. He also referred to ongoing initiatives such as the Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme, Living Indus, and Recharge Pakistan, which aim to expand forest cover, restore ecosystems, and improve water management. Citizens were encouraged to switch off non-essential lights on March 28 and use the occasion to consider long-term changes that reduce environmental impact. PM encourages Earth Hour participationMeanwhile, Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged citizens to take part in Earth Hour by switching off unnecessary lights between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, or at least minimizing electricity use during the hour. He said the initiative serves as a reminder that protecting the environment is a shared national responsibility, particularly at a time of &quot;serious environmental challenges&quot;.&nbsp; He stressed that decisions taken today to address environmental degradation would shape the future of coming generations. Senate chairman stresses policy and coordinationIn a separate statement, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, underscored the urgency of a coordinated national response, warning that climate-related threats are becoming more frequent and severe. He pointed to accelerating glacial melt, growing water stress, and recurring extreme weather events as key challenges requiring stronger policy alignment and institutional accountability.&nbsp; Describing climate change as &quot;a profound intergenerational obligation,&quot; the Chairman called for tighter policy integration, stronger institutional accountability, and a coordinated response spanning federal and provincial governments. Describing Earth Hour as a symbolic but important initiative, he said it serves to reinforce the need for efficient energy use and more sustainable consumption across society. He added that legislative efforts would continue to prioritize environmental protection, renewable energy, and conservation of natural resources. Notably, the chairman expanded the circle of responsibility beyond government, calling on civil society and the private sector to engage meaningfully. The transition to sustainable consumption, he reiterated, cannot be legislated into existence alone.

President Asif Ali Zardari, PM Shehbaz Sharif, and the Senate chairman call for sustainable practices, warning that climate threats demand collective action, policy coordination, and long-term environmental responsibility.

Pakistan observes Earth Hour, leaders urge climate responsibility

ISLAMABAD: Over half of Yemen&#39;s population is sliding toward life-threatening hunger in what aid agencies are calling the country&#39;s most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-expresses-solidarity-with-saudi-arabia-urges-regional-peace-and-stability" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">dangerous</a>&nbsp;food security phase in years, with famine-like conditions expected in multiple districts by early 2026. The dire warning comes from the International Rescue Committee&#39;s (IRC) latest policy briefing published in January 2026, which reveals that 18 million people are expected to experience worsening levels of food insecurity by early 2026, with an additional one million people facing life-threatening hunger. According to the IRC report titled &quot;Starving in Silence: Surging Food Insecurity in Yemen,&quot; the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/saudiled-coalition-says-targeted-shipments-in-yemen-unloaded-from-vessels-from-uae" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">crisis</a>&nbsp;is being driven not by conflict escalation, but by a collapse of household purchasing power and a sharp decrease in humanitarian assistance in 2025. By the end of 2025, the humanitarian response was less than 25% funded, with the Nutrition Cluster at less than 10% and the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster at 15%, effectively paralyzing lifesaving services. Unprecedented service collapse The IRC&#39;s assessment reveals devastating impacts on the ground. Following major donor funding withdrawals in early 2025, nutrition service reach declined by 63% within one year in IRC-supported districts in southern Yemen. Health facilities and therapeutic feeding centers closed, mobile teams were overstretched, and admissions for severe acute malnutrition fell&mdash;not because children were healthier, but because fewer who were sick could access <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ship-ablaze-after-projectile-strike-off-yemens-gulf-of-aden-coast" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">services</a>. Nearly 80% of households assessed by IRC reported severe hunger, and half of households with children under five reported at least one malnourished child. Worst outlook since 2022 The latest IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) projections for September 2025&ndash;February 2026 show Yemen now carries the highest burden of IPC Phase 4 globally. Pockets of famine affecting over 40,000 people are expected in four districts within the next two months&mdash;the worst outlook for the country since 2022. IRC assessments conducted in Taiz, Al Dhale&#39;e, Abyan and Al Hodeidah in August 2025 revealed that half of all households with children under five had at least one malnourished child during the previous three months, while 1 in 4 households had at least one malnourished pregnant or breastfeeding woman. Nearly 97% of respondents cited food security as their number one need. Crisis drivers The IRC report identifies four key factors driving the crisis: 1. &nbsp; &nbsp;Funding collapse: The current contraction is historic in scale, with less than 25% of the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan funded as of December 2025&mdash;the lowest levels of funding in a decade. Critical nutrition and food security pipelines have been heavily disrupted, removing the last safety net for millions. 2. &nbsp; &nbsp;Economic shock: Currency depreciation, inflation, reduced remittances, and banking disruptions have sharply eroded purchasing power in a country that imports most of its food. Even households that briefly stabilized after the 2022 truce are now resorting to crisis-level coping strategies such as skipping meals and selling productive assets. 3. &nbsp; &nbsp;Climate change: Flooding in August 2025 affected nearly half a million people, destroying homes, farmland, water systems and health facilities across 20 governorates. Yemen ranks as the world&#39;s third most climate-vulnerable country, with temperatures set to rise by up to 3.3&deg;C in the next 40 years. 4. &nbsp; &nbsp;Fragmented <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/un-chief-strongly-condemns-houthis-detaining-nine-more-un-personnel-in-yemen" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">governance</a>: The ongoing conflict has eroded state capacities to enforce laws regulating land, water and natural resource management. Yemen receives 80 to 90% less climate finance than the average for countries with the lowest climate vulnerability despite high needs. Surveillance systems collapsing The IRC warns that food security and nutrition surveillance systems are collapsing, masking the true scale of hunger. As data gaps widen, needs go undocumented, assistance is not triggered, and preventable deaths risk going unseen. In 20 districts across 7 governorates where IRC had to withdraw or severely shrink nutrition programming due to funding cuts, levels of food insecurity have climbed on average by over 7%, with over 148,000 people moving into crisis or worse levels of food insecurity in 2025 alone. Window for action closing &quot;People still remember when they didn&#39;t know where their next meal would come from. The fear is that we are returning to this dark chapter again,&quot; said Caroline Sekyewa, IRC Yemen Country Director. The IRC states that without immediate donor action to restore and scale integrated food security and nutrition assistance, famine-like conditions are expected in multiple districts by early 2026. However, the report states that timely funding in the next three to six months can still prevent mass loss of life, protect recent humanitarian gains, and stabilize the most at-risk communities. The IRC is calling on donors to restore and scale integrated food security and nutrition funding, fully fund lifesaving nutrition treatment, and re-establish joint food security and nutrition surveillance systems. The organization has also urged Yemeni authorities to facilitate safe, principled, and unhindered humanitarian access and support economic relief efforts.

Middle East

Over half of Yemen’s population faces life-threatening hunger as aid funding collapses, economic shocks deepen, and climate disasters worsen, pushing millions toward famine-like conditions by early 2026.

18 million Yemenis facing starvation as humanitarian funding collapses to historic lows

ISLAMABAD: Climate change and natural disasters are driving an unprecedented wave of human displacement worldwide, reshaping migration patterns and challenging governments&rsquo; ability to respond.&nbsp;According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), in 2023, nearly 47 million new internal displacements were recorded globally, with 53% triggered by disasters, including storms, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.&nbsp;The report notes that by the end of 2023, nearly 8 million people were living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to disasters across 82 countries and territories.&nbsp;In his message on International Migrants Day (IMD) on December 18, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to addressing climate and disaster displacement, saying:&nbsp;&ldquo;Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Pakistan &mdash; one of the countries most affected by extreme weather events &mdash; stands ready to deepen regional cooperation, strengthen early warning systems, and expand disaster-resilient infrastructure to protect affected populations and support those forced to flee their homes.&rdquo;&nbsp;Conflict and broader displacement crisisWhile disasters drive mobility, conflict remains the primary driver of displacement. Oxfam reports that more than 82 million people worldwide are currently forcibly displaced, the highest number since World War II.&nbsp;Five countries, Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar, account for two-thirds of cross-border displacement, with Syria alone responsible for 13.2 million refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons, Oxfam notes.&nbsp;Climate change as a driverThe UN&rsquo;s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) first warned in 1990 that climate impacts such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and agricultural disruption could force millions to migrate.&nbsp;According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), climate and environmental stressors, ranging from slow-onset events like desertification and water scarcity to sudden disasters such as floods and storms, will increasingly shape migration trends in the coming decades.&nbsp;Impacts and protection gapsForced migration, whether climate- or conflict-driven, undermines development by placing pressure on urban infrastructure, slowing economic growth, increasing conflict risk, and negatively affecting health and education outcomes for displaced populations.&nbsp;However, climate migrants remain largely outside international refugee protections, leaving a significant legal and humanitarian gap.&nbsp;According to IOM, addressing climate- and disaster-driven displacement requires integrated planning that combines disaster risk reduction, infrastructure resilience, legal protections for migrants, and international cooperation.&nbsp;With extreme weather events projected to increase, the scale of displacement is likely to rise, making policy responses more urgent than ever, the IOM notes.

Articles tagged with "Climate change"

On World Environment Day, Pakistan reaffirms commitment to sustainability

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Women climate leaders honored at Pakistan Gender Climate Award

UK climate advisers urge setting maximum working temperature

Sea temperatures near all-time highs as El Nino looms: EU monitor

Govt to empower youth-led climate innovation through Green University initiative: Minister

Asia faces ‘super El Niño’ risk as conflict strains energy, food supplies

Pakistan observes Earth Hour, leaders urge climate responsibility

18 million Yemenis facing starvation as humanitarian funding collapses to historic lows

Climate and disaster-driven displacement are reshaping global migration

On World Environment Day, Pakistan reaffirms commitment to sustainability