Publication: Pakistan - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment
Loading...
Published
2024-07-10
ISSN
Date
2024-07-10
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. Extensive geographical diversity and exposure to a wide range of climate-related hazards, a strong dependency on agriculture and water resources, high rates of multidimensional poverty, as well as a sizable and expanding population, independently and collectively contribute to climate change-related vulnerabilities across the country. Climate change can have profound effects on health outcomes in Pakistan - either by exacerbating the country’s existing health burdens or by creating new health risks. The objective of this Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) is to assist decision-makers in Pakistan with planning effective adaptation measures to mitigate climate-related health risks. To do so, the characteristics of the climatology of Pakistan are first described, with a focus on the observed and projected climate exposures that are relevant to health, as well as key climate-related hazards. Then climate-related health risks, namely heat-related risks, vector-borne disease (VBD) risks, waterborne disease (WBDs) risks, and risks to nutrition are examined in light of projected climate variability and change, including identifying vulnerable populations most at risk, where possible. The final step assesses the adaptive capacity of the health system in Pakistan to manage current and future climate-related health risks. This assessment is used to inform a series of recommendations that are aimed at reducing climate-related health vulnerability and building climate resilience in Pakistan’s health sector.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2024. Pakistan - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/41852 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Cambodia - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-10)Cambodia is highly exposed and vulnerable to climate change, which has significant direct and indirect impacts on human health. Climate-related hazards - such as heavy rainfall, flooding, landslides, sea-level rises, extreme heat, droughts, wildfires, and storms - affect agricultural productivity significantly, with tremendous implications on food security and nutrition. They also lead to increased waterborne disease (WBD) outbreaks and the transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in Cambodia. Moreover, flooding, strong winds, and extreme heat cause damage to the health infrastructure, medical equipment, and supplies in the country. The increasing burden of climate-sensitive diseases, coupled with the impacts on the health infrastructure, is putting pressure on the already fragile health system in the country, thereby affecting adaptive capacity and increasing health inequalities in Cambodia. The objective of this Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) is to assist decision-makers with planning effective adaptation measures to deal with climate-related health risks.Publication Malawi - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-10)Malawi faces significant climate-related challenges that directly and indirectly impact health. Coupled with human-made health stressors, climate change can exacerbate the existing health burdens while creating new health risks. Changes in the temperature and precipitation patterns affect the geographic range and burden of a variety of climate-sensitive health risks while impacting the functioning and capacity of Malawi’s health system. Climate change-related challenges that increase Malawi’s vulnerability to poor health outcomes include a wide range of climate hazards, such as extreme temperature and humidity conditions, potential changes to precipitation patterns, extreme precipitation events, seasonal aridity, droughts, and cyclones. The country is affected by these climate hazards due to its geographical position; a strong dependency on rainfed agriculture, which is susceptible to regular climatic shocks; ongoing population growth; chronic and widespread malnutrition; as well as the high prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS. Considering Malawi’s high exposure and vulnerability to climate change, the World Bank, through the Health Climate and Environment Program (HCEP), is conducting a Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA). The objective of this CHVA is to assist decision-makers with planning effective adaptation measures to address climate-related health risks.Publication Ethiopia - Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-10)Ethiopia faces significant climate-related challenges that will directly influence population health outcomes. Climate change, coupled with human-induced health stressors, exacerbates existing health burdens, and creates new health risks. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect the country and burden a variety of climate-sensitive health risks while simultaneously impacting the functioning and capacity of Ethiopia’s health system. Challenges that increase Ethiopia’s vulnerability to adverse health outcomes associated with climate change include the wide range of climate hazards that affect the country due to its strong dependency on rainfed agriculture, which is susceptible to regular climatic shocks, ongoing population growth, and chronic and widespread undernutrition. The objective of this Climate and Health Vulnerability Assessment (CHVA) is to synthesize current research evidence and review relevant government documents to assist decision makers with planning effective adaptation measures to address climate-related health risks.Publication Taking Stock, June 2012(World Bank, Hanoi, 2012-06)The authorities' determined implementation of stabilization measures over the past year has helped to avert a macroeconomic crisis. If the deterioration of the macroeconomic environment in 2010-11 was rapid, the improvement in the situation in the past twelve months has been equally swift. Regaining macroeconomic stability has been costly, but not stabilizing the economy would have led to even bigger losses. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth has decelerated from 6.8 percent in 2010 to 5.9 percent in 2011, and further to 4 percent in the first quarter of 2012 as higher prices has lowered domestic demand, affecting sectors such as construction, manufacturing and utilities. Industrial production has slowed, inventory for key industrial products has accumulated, and a number of small and medium enterprises have either closed, been liquidated or temporarily suspended their operations. While the stabilization efforts may have contributed to a cyclical slowdown, Vietnam's trend growth rate has been on a downward path for the last 5-6 years, largely on account of the slow pace of structural reforms. Inefficiencies in state-owned enterprises, banks and public investments have been a drag on the country's long-term growth potential. With gains from macroeconomic stabilization still recent and fragile, especially in an external environment that is fraught with uncertainty, the government needs to be careful not to shift to an expansionary stance prematurely.Publication Kosovo : Poverty Assessment, Promoting Opportunity, Security, and Participation for All(Washington, DC, 2005-06)Despite considerable progress with reconstruction in Kosovo, the challenge of poverty reduction remains enormous for years to come. The recent growth performance has been driven by a post-conflict boom financed by official development aid flows, but has not led to significant job creation opportunities, and its sustainability is unlikely without a clarification of Kosovo's political status, and the maintenance of peace and security. While recent growth (and consumption inequality) have most likely led to a reduction in poverty (between 2000 and 2003), yet, some 37 percent of the population is estimated to live in poverty according to the 2002/03 Household Budget Survey (HBS) data. The report seeks to contribute to the on-going policy dialogue on poverty reduction in Kosovo, and to support the formulation of public policy. The report outlines the many dimensions of poverty in Kosovo, where income poverty appears widespread, and is found to affect disproportionately children, the elderly, female headed households, the disabled, non-Serb ethnic minorities, the unemployed, and precarious job holders. Unemployment is in direct correlation with income poverty, but, while educational and health outcomes are still low, social cohesion is fragile, which may undermine the sustainability of economic growth, and reduce the impact of growth on poverty reduction. This strategy is articulated around the following five main goals: 1) promoting income opportunities; 2) raising education and health capabilities; 3) reducing vulnerability to income and non-income poverty; 4) empowering disadvantaged groups; and, 5) promoting a poverty dialogue. However, this strategy would need to take into account the context of tight fiscal constraints, in which public programs need to be developed. Moreover, to maximize the impact on poverty reduction, the links between growth and job creation need to be enhanced. This would require improved investment climate, and trade arrangements, in addition to advisory services provision to small farmers, in light of the intense competition they are facing due to subsidized agricultural imports.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Gabon Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-01)Gabon has a unique opportunity to drive inclusive growth, reduce poverty, and build a resilient post-oil economy, with climate action accelerating progress toward these goals. The country’s main development challenge is achieving higher growth and poverty reduction, as stronger growth is needed regardless of projected climate shocks to create jobs, raise living standards, and enable a viable post-oil economy. While pursuing growth-promoting economic reforms, climate action that prioritizes people must remain central to its development pathway. However, climate change risks exacerbating poverty and regional inequalities in a country already facing long-term challenges in expanding economic opportunities and basic public services, especially in rural areas. Climate shifts compound these challenges, making stronger private sector-led growth driven by reforms essential for resilience, diversification, job creation, and poverty reduction, though targeted investments in adaptation will still be required to mitigate climate shocks. Using a whole-of-economy approach, the Gabon Country Climate Development Report (CCDR) estimates that climate change impacts could result in GDP losses of 3.5 to 5.3 percent per year through 2050 compared to a business-as-usual baseline trajectory.Publication Forging Viet Nam's Semiconductor Future: Talent and Innovation Leading the Way(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-09-10)Vietnam has prioritized semiconductors as one of ten critical technologies and set explicit goals of becoming a global semiconductor talent hub by 2030, moving up the value chain toward higher value-added segments, and developing a complete semiconductor value chain by 2045. Delivering on that pledge hinges on strategic and urgent investment in top talent, science, and innovation. This report concentrates on the most urgent gap – cultivating a cadre of scientists and engineers (S&E). and, to the extent possible, tech entrepreneurs, to support Vietnam’s semiconductor and high-tech ambitions. The analysis and interventions focus on the highly skilled workforce and frontier talent development, and cover research, innovation, and university-industry linkages in relation to the talent challenges. The report recognizes that to unlock its semiconductor potential, Viet Nam must address other binding constraints, notably: weak linkages between FDI and domestic firms, emerging infrastructure gaps (e.g., energy and logistics), and intellectual property rights regulations, amid evolving geoeconomics conditions.Publication Business Ready 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-03)Business Ready (B-READY) is a new World Bank Group corporate flagship report that evaluates the business and investment climate worldwide. It replaces and improves upon the Doing Business project. B-READY provides a comprehensive data set and description of the factors that strengthen the private sector, not only by advancing the interests of individual firms but also by elevating the interests of workers, consumers, potential new enterprises, and the natural environment. This 2024 report introduces a new analytical framework that benchmarks economies based on three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency. The analysis centers on 10 topics essential for private sector development that correspond to various stages of the life cycle of a firm. The report also offers insights into three cross-cutting themes that are relevant for modern economies: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender. B-READY draws on a robust data collection process that includes specially tailored expert questionnaires and firm-level surveys. The 2024 report, which covers 50 economies, serves as the first in a series that will expand in geographical coverage and refine its methodology over time, supporting reform advocacy, policy guidance, and further analysis and research.Publication Jobs in a Changing Climate: Insights from World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports Covering 93 Economies(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-05)The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) provide a crosscutting look at how countries’ development prospects, and the job opportunities they offer to their people, can be threatened by climate impacts and supported by climate policies. Climate change and policies affect jobs through impacts on productivity, energy and material efficiency, and physical, human, and natural capital. They can also transform employment opportunities, especially through complementary measures that help workers and firms adapt to and benefit from new technologies and production practices. Prepared by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), CCDRs integrate country perspectives, climate science and economic modeling, private sector information, and policy analysis to assess how countries can successfully grow and develop their economies and create jobs despite increasing climate risks and while achieving their climate objectives and commitments. Each CCDR starts from the country’s development priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and is developed in close consultation with governments, businesses, and civil society, ensuring the recommendations reflect national priorities. By combining evidence on adaptation, resilience, and emissions pathways, CCDRs highlight where climate action can reinforce development and job creation, and where targeted policies are needed to manage risks and smooth labor market transitions. Taken together, these elements can help create local jobs, ensure economic transitions are just and inclusive, and equip workers and firms to navigate the disruptions and opportunities of a changing climate and changing technologies.Publication The World Bank Group Annual Report 2025(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-10-09)The World Bank Group Annual Report 2025 presents on World Bank Group activities in fiscal 2025. The Annual Report is prepared by the Executive Directors of ICSID, IFC, MIGA, and the World Bank (IBRD/IDA) in accordance with the by-laws of the institutions. The President of the World Bank Group and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors submit the Annual Report, together with the accompanying administrative budgets and audited financial statements, to the Board of Governors.