Top leadership flags climate threats as Pakistan renews environmental push

• PM says floods, droughts, heatwaves and glacial melt show climate reality, saying Pakistan among most vulnerable despite negligible global emissions

• Stresses collective national action could deliver a cleaner, greener and more climate-resilient Pakistan

• Dar reaffirms commitment to placing says environmental protection at centre of national policy priorities

• Maritime minister warns of unprecedented Arabian Sea heatwave, linking marine warming to stronger cyclones and extreme monsoon patterns

 ISLAMABAD: The government on Friday renewed its national commitment to environmental protection and climate resilience as top government leaders warned of escalating climate threats, marine heatwaves and worsening environmental vulnerabilities, calling for urgent coordinated action at national and global levels ahead of World Environment Day.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in his message on World Environment Day to be observed on June 5, said Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its resolve to protect the planet and ensure a sustainable future for coming generations.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's Message on World Environment Day, 5 June 2026.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, Pakistan joins the global community in reaffirming its unwavering commitment towards environmental protection of the planet.

The preservation of our… pic.twitter.com/JTfkg3xDoV

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) June 5, 2026

He said this year’s theme, “Climate Action,” underscored the urgent need for effective international cooperation, warning that floods, droughts, heatwaves, glacial melting, water scarcity and air pollution had turned climate change into a lived global reality rather than a distant challenge.

Despite contributing negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions, the prime minister noted, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries, suffering repeated human and economic losses from environmental disasters.

He said the government was pursuing a broad climate agenda focused on renewable energy expansion, forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, improved water management, pollution reduction, climate-smart agriculture and green industrial growth.

Shehbaz Sharif stressed that youth would play a central role in building a climate-resilient Pakistan, saying their energy and innovation were vital for shaping a sustainable future. He urged citizens, institutions, businesses and farmers to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles, with emphasis on water conservation, energy efficiency, tree plantation and wildlife protection.

He expressed confidence that collective national action could deliver a cleaner, greener and more climate-resilient Pakistan.

 Committed to making environmental protection central to policy priorities: Dar

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said environmental protection had been placed at the centre of national policy priorities, noting that the right to a clean and sustainable environment is constitutionally guaranteed.

🔊 PR No.1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣

Message of the Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 World Environment Day, June 5,2026

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ynUYu4kHKF

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 5, 2026

He said Pakistan was advancing climate-resilient housing, clean energy transition and sustainable construction practices, while reaffirming the need for strengthened international cooperation based on common but differentiated responsibilities.

Dar said Pakistan continues to face floods, glacial melt, droughts, heatwaves and rising water stress despite its limited contribution to global emissions. He also appreciated Azerbaijan for hosting this year’s World Environment Day and promoting international environmental cooperation.

 Underwater heat emergency in Arabian Sea

Adding urgency to the climate discourse, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry warned of an “underwater heat emergency” in the Arabian Sea, calling for immediate climate action to protect coastal communities, fisheries and maritime infrastructure.

 He said sea-surface temperatures in the northern Arabian Sea have exceeded the 90th percentile across more than 30 percent of the region in recent weeks, describing it as an unprecedented marine heatwave already intensifying climate risks and influencing monsoon behaviour.

Linking the phenomenon to increased cyclone risks, he warned that warmer waters could trigger stronger and more frequent tropical cyclones, placing additional pressure on ports, fishing fleets and coastal infrastructure.

He also cautioned that a westward shift in monsoon moisture could increase heavy rainfall episodes in southern Pakistan, particularly Karachi and Sindh, between mid-August and mid-September, potentially overwhelming urban drainage systems.

Highlighting long-term environmental risks, he pointed to sea-level rise, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion threatening the Indus Delta, alongside coral bleaching and shifting fish populations affecting livelihoods and the blue economy.

Citing United Nations Environment Programme findings, he said rising greenhouse gas emissions are driving more frequent and intense marine heatwaves globally, stressing that oceans are absorbing excess atmospheric heat but are now under growing ecological strain.

He called for an integrated national response combining climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable maritime governance, warning that Pakistan must act decisively as climate extremes intensify.

Together, the statements underscored a unified government message: climate change is no longer a distant threat but an immediate national challenge requiring urgent, coordinated and sustained action.