Pakistan could become one of the countries most severely affected by climate change due to rising temperatures and limited access to affordable cooling solutions, according to a new study by the Climate Impact Lab.
The research warns that if current climate trends continue unchecked, the country may experience more than 150,000 additional heat-related deaths every year by 2050.
The report highlights several factors that increase the country’s vulnerability, including the high cost of air conditioners, frequent electricity outages, and unequal access to reliable cooling, particularly in low-income and rural communities.
These challenges leave millions of people exposed to prolonged periods of extreme heat, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
Experts stress that urgent action is needed to reduce the impact of rising temperatures. They recommend expanding heat action plans across cities, improving early warning systems to alert communities before heatwaves, strengthening the national power infrastructure to ensure reliable electricity, establishing public cooling centers for vulnerable populations, and increasing urban greenery to help lower temperatures.
The study emphasizes that timely investments in climate adaptation and public health measures could save thousands of lives and better prepare Pakistan for the growing challenges posed by climate change.
