Climate and Food Security: How Emissions Are Threatening What Pakistan Eats

In the heart of Pakistan’s economy and culture lies agriculture — feeding millions, creating jobs, and supporting exports. But a growing, invisible threat looms over every wheat field, rice paddy, and fruit orchard: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As emissions rise globally and locally, Pakistan’s food security is under severe threat. Changing rainfall patterns, extreme heat, floods, and shifting seasons are making it harder for farmers to grow food, and for the country to feed its people.

GHG Emissions and Their Impact on Agriculture

Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are major contributors to global warming. In Pakistan:

• High temperatures are reducing wheat yields

• Irregular monsoons damage rice crops

• Flooding events, like those in 2022, wipe out entire harvests

• Pests and diseases spread faster in warmer climates

All of this makes farming more unpredictable, especially for small-scale farmers who lack resources to adapt.

From Field to Table: A Broken Chain

When agriculture suffers, the consequences travel through the entire food system:

• Food prices rise, hurting poor families the most

• Malnutrition increases, especially among children and women

• Import dependence grows, creating trade and inflation challenges

• Rural poverty worsens, pushing people into cities and slums

Climate change isn't just an environmental issue — it’s a threat to food, health, economy, and peace.

Pakistan’s Agricultural Emissions Problem

Ironically, agriculture itself contributes to emissions:

• Rice paddies release methane

• Livestock emit methane and nitrous oxide

• Overuse of fertilizers produces harmful gases

• Crop residue burning creates smog and CO₂

This creates a dangerous cycle: agriculture emits GHGs → GHGs worsen climate → climate damages agriculture.

Building a Climate-Resilient Food System

Pakistan can break this cycle with urgent action:

1. Climate-Smart Farming

Introduce drought-resistant seeds, water-efficient practices, and precision agriculture.

2. Reduce Emissions from Farms

• Promote organic fertilizers

• Manage livestock feed and manure

• Shift away from rice-flooding and crop burning

3. Invest in Farmer Training & Technology

Educate farmers on sustainable methods and provide access to weather forecasts and crop planning tools.

4. Protect Agricultural Land

Stop urban sprawl and industrial encroachment on fertile land.

Policy and International Support Needed

Pakistan needs stronger agricultural policies aligned with climate goals. International donors and institutions can help with:

• Green financing

• Climate adaptation grants

• Research and development support

Conclusion: No Climate Justice Without Food Security

If Pakistan wants to secure its future, it must protect what feeds it. Food security is not just about growing crops — it's about managing emissions, adapting to climate shocks, and supporting farmers on the front lines.

We must act now — or risk turning Pakistan’s fertile plains into barren warnings of what happens when we ignore the climate-food connection.