Pakistan is facing severe climate change impacts, posing a significant threat to key sectors such as agriculture, health, infrastructure, and water resources. Increases in temperatures and water extremes reduce agricultural productivity, exacerbate water shortages, threaten food security, increase poverty, and put immense pressure on people’s livelihoods and economic sectors. In addition, future impacts and vulnerabilities on the country’s infrastructure are not fully understood to take targeted action and unlock climate finance.

To improve Pakistan’s climate planning and efficient coordination among key stakeholders, local partnerships and capacity building are important to combine efforts and establish a robust foundation for the Economics of Climate Adaptation (ECA) framework.

The ECA project aims to address these challenges by providing a robust framework supporting Pakistan in building resilience and implementing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The project aims to assess climate risks in two highly vulnerable provinces, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, using the CLIMADA modeling tool. The objective is to equip decision-makers with actionable insights and cost-effective adaptation strategies that can be tailored to specific sectors like agriculture, water, and infrastructure.

Led by the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS and in cooperation with the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) and the National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning (NIUIP), the project will work closely with local stakeholders and key sector-experts to address Pakistan’s specific challenges, ensuring effective management and successful implementation of climate adaptation strategies. In addition to local partnerships, the ECA project strongly emphasizes capacity building. A key objective is to equip Pakistan´s institutions with the skills needed for long-term climate adaptation by training local government agencies, local authorities, and stakeholders in using CLIMADA, a climate risk assessment tool. This training will empower them to manage climate risks effectively. By strengthening Pakistan´s capacity to implement climate-resilient strategies across sectors such as agriculture, health, infrastructure, and water resources, the project aims to safeguard livelihoods and promote sustainable development.