Climate Change and Global Climate Governance:

An Unmistakable Alarm Bell

In Punjab, August–September 2025 brought record monsoon rains and hail from swollen rivers (Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej), displacing over 2.5 million people and devastating about 2.5 million acres of farmland. AP News. 

These floods weren’t just weather events — they are a vivid reminder of what climate change is doing, especially where resilience is low.

The floods were centered in Punjab, the country’s breadbasket, but impacts spread downstream into Sindh and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Worst-Affected Areas

• Punjab Province (core damage):
  • Kasur, Okara, Pakpattan, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, and Multan districts were inundated after the Sutlej River overflowed.
  • Narowal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, and Sheikhupura districts were hit by floodwaters from the Ravi and Chenab Rivers.
  • Lodhran and Rahim Yar Khan also suffered extensive crop damage.
• Sindh Province:
  • Spillover from Punjab’s rivers brought flooding into Ghotki and Sukkur, damaging cotton and rice belts.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK):
  • Hill torrents and flash floods hit Dera Ismail Khan and Tank, washing away villages and farmland.

Scale of Destruction

• At least 101–118 people died in Punjab alone, while over 4,500 villages were submerged.
• Total damages reached about Rs409 billion (~US$1.4 billion), with Rs302 billion (~US$1.0 billion) losses in agriculture.
• Standing wheat, rice, and cotton crops were destroyed, driving a national food crisis.

Impact on Wheat and Flour Markets

• Wheat plantation area was already down by ~6.5% in 2025; the floods worsened shortages.
• Wholesale wheat price surged by Rs700 per maund, climbing from ~Rs2,300 to ~Rs3,000.
• A 20-kg flour bag jumped by Rs410, reaching Rs1,810 in major Punjab cities.
• In some districts, retail flour rose from Rs80 per kg to Rs125 per kg.
• Large sacks of fine flour spiked to Rs9,800–10,400, disrupting supply for bakeries and households.

What Is Global Climate Governance?

Global climate governance refers to the collection of international laws, agreements, institutions, and financial mechanisms through which countries coordinate to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Key frameworks include:

• UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
• Paris Agreement — aims to limit global warming well below 2°C, striving for 1.5°C

These efforts rely heavily on cooperation, financing, and accountability. But for vulnerable countries like Pakistan, the gap between promise and reality is painfully wide.

COP Summits — Where Big Promises Are Made

While these summits sketch out hope, actual delivery—much-needed resources, technology, systems—lags.

Climate Finance — Promise vs Reality

Developed nations promised large sums to help poorer countries adapt and recover:

• The target of US$100 billion annually by 2020 was set, but OECD reports show it hasn’t been fully met.
• Pakistan, though responsible for less than 1% of global emissions, is among the most climate vulnerable. Al Jazeera+1

The recent floods’ damage in Pakistan is estimated at around Rs409 billion (~US$1.4 billion), with agriculture taking the brunt: over Rs302 billion (~US$1.0 billion) in losses. Pakistan Today Profit+1

Pakistan’s Vulnerability — Why the Impact Is So High

Several structural and climatic issues amplify Pakistan’s exposure to climate change:

• Geography & glaciers: Pakistan has thousands of glaciers; melting rates are increasing.
• Extreme weather: More intense monsoon rains, heatwaves, and erratic patterns.
• Economic structure: Heavy dependence on agriculture, limited safety nets.

In 2025:

• Wheat plantation area declined about 6.5% compared to previous year. Dawn
• Wheat production was estimated at ~29 million tonnes, below some targets, made more fragile by declining planted area. Dawn

The 2025 Floods — What Happened, What Was Destroyed

• 2.5 million acres of farmland destroyed in Punjab, especially along Ravi, Chenab, Sutlej rivers. AP News+2Pakistan Today Profit+2
• At least 101‐118 deaths in Punjab alone. The Times of India+2AP News+2
• Over 2.5 million people displaced; over 4,500 villages submerged. Pakistan Today+2Reuters+2
• More than 4.4 million people affected in Punjab since the floods including infrastructure damage, loss of homes, disruption of livelihoods. Reuters+1

How the Floods Hit Wheat and Flour Markets

When the breadbasket is hit, everyone feels it. Key effects on the wheat/flour market:

• The wheat planted area was already down ~6.5%. Flood damage compounded the shortages. Dawn+2Pakistan Today+2
• Wholesale wheat price jumped by Rs700 per maund in many places, from ~Rs2,300 to Rs3,000 per maund. SAMAA TV+1
• Flour prices rose sharply: a 20-kg bag climbed by ~Rs410, reaching Rs1,810 in many Punjab/urban areas. SAMAA TV+1
• Some districts saw per‐kilogram flour prices jump from Rs80 to Rs125. SAMAA TV
• Fine flour (wholesale/large sacks) surged: a sack going from ~Rs6,200 to ~Rs9,800–10,400 depending on region. Pakistan Today Profit+1

These spikes are driven by:

1. Destruction of standing wheat and damaged reserves
2. Disruption of transport (roads flooded, milling facilities impacted)
3. Hoarding/speculation where government control is weak
4. Reduced planting earlier in the year → lower buffer when disaster strikes

The Way Forward — Governance, Climate Justice & Practical Steps

For Pakistan, and similarly vulnerable countries, success will depend on combining strong governance, global cooperation, and internal reforms.

Global & Multilateral Actions

• Fulfill climate finance promises (e.g. Loss & Damage, adaptation funds)
• Strengthen mechanisms to ensure fast disbursement after disasters
• Support technology transfer (flood control, irrigation, crop resilience)

Pakistan’s Internal Measures

• Improve early warning and river/dam management systems
• Agricultural insurance or compensation schemes for farmers
• Maintain and utilize national reserves wisely; restrict inter‐provincial grain hoarding while border trade remains fair
• Agriculture policy: incentivize planting resilient crops, support farmers to plant wheat despite price challenges

Conclusion — More Than Words Needed

Climate change isn’t a theory for Pakistan — it is a lived, recurring crisis. The 2025 floods show how vulnerable infrastructure, farming systems, and livelihoods can be wiped out in weeks. Global climate governance gives the framework; but without timely finance, accountability, and domestic action, that framework remains paper.

Pakistan needs not just promises, but concrete climate justice — because for many, survival depends on it.