Climate Change Crisis Should Be Top Priority: Ishrat Warns on Water-Food-Energy Nexus
limate change should be priority area in Pakistan, says Dr Ishrat Husain. He warns that the water-food-energy nexus is driving environmental degradation, urging think tanks to adopt out-of-the-box solutions.
Climate change should be priority area for Pakistan, warned Dr Ishrat Husain, former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, during a Policy Research Clinic at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). Speaking on “The Agenda for Policy Think Tanks in Pakistan”, he cautioned that environmental degradation caused by the water-food-energy nexus threatens food security, governance, and long-term sustainability.
Dr Ishrat’s Call for Urgent Climate Action
Dr Ishrat, who currently serves as Senior Advisor at SDPI, stressed that ministries dealing with food security, water, and climate hardly receive the attention and resources they deserve. He highlighted that extreme weather events, devastating floods, and unpredictable weather patterns have already placed Pakistan’s food security at serious risk.
“Climate change should be the priority area for every think tank in Pakistan. It is not just an environmental issue—it is a traditional security threat,” he emphasized.
The Water-Food-Energy Nexus in Pakistan
According to Dr Ishrat, the water-food-energy nexus is at the heart of Pakistan’s environmental degradation. Unsustainable water use, overdependence on fossil fuels, and declining agricultural productivity have created a vicious cycle that deepens climate vulnerability.
Floods destroy crops, while droughts and heatwaves reduce yields, worsening rural poverty. Energy shortages push reliance on outdated and polluting technologies, adding further environmental stress.
Key Challenge Areas:
- Mismanagement of water resources
- Weak agricultural policies post-18th Amendment
- Low investments in renewable energy
- Limited disaster preparedness
Think Tanks and Donor Dependency
Dr Ishrat raised concerns that think tanks in Pakistan have become too reliant on international donor agencies. This dependency, he argued, has reduced their independence and influence in shaping national policies.
He advised think tanks to develop innovative, out-of-the-box approaches that align with national priorities rather than donor agendas. Strengthening local policy ownership, he added, would help bridge the gap between research, government decision-making, and community needs.
Youth and Women in Policy Research
Highlighting inclusivity, Dr Ishrat stressed that both youth and women must play a more active role in Pakistan’s policy research ecosystem.
- Youth: bring fresh, innovative ideas and energy.
- Women: offer unique perspectives often overlooked in male-dominated research spaces.
Encouraging their participation would ensure inclusive and sustainable policy solutions that address the real needs of society.
Technology, AI, and Global Shifts
In a forward-looking statement, Dr Ishrat pointed out that think tanks should focus on emerging global trends such as:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Renewable technologies
- Geopolitical upheavals
He noted China’s dominance in solar PV manufacturing and electric cars, supported by its production of over three million robots, giving it a 30% global share. Pakistan, he suggested, must learn from such technological leaps to remain competitive.
The Role of CPEC and Green Energy
According to Dr Ishrat, Pakistani think tanks should conduct deeper research into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Green Energy boom, particularly their impact on Pakistan’s national grid and climate resilience.
He suggested revitalizing Policy Briefs as tools to bridge evidence with policy decisions, making research actionable for policymakers and beneficial for public governance.
Local Governments and Policy Implementation
Dr Ishrat emphasized that local governments are critical to grassroots-level climate action. Policies designed at the federal level often fail to reach communities unless backed by empowered local governance.
Strengthening municipalities and ensuring they deliver basic amenities like clean water, sanitation, and renewable energy access will be vital in reducing climate vulnerability.
Conclusion
Dr Ishrat Husain’s remarks underline a powerful message: Climate change should be priority area in Pakistan’s national agenda. The water-food-energy nexus threatens not just the environment but the stability of food systems, energy security, and long-term economic development.
For Pakistan to navigate this existential crisis, think tanks must reclaim independence, embrace youth and women in research, and focus on technological innovation and local governance.
By aligning national priorities with global climate realities, Pakistan can shift from reactive disaster management to proactive resilience-building, safeguarding both its people and its future.
