Climate Change as A Non-Traditional Security Threat Multiplier: Reassessing Pakistan’s National Security Policy 2022-2026 in a Changing Security Environment

Abstract

The emergence of Climate change brings significant non-traditional security challenges, disturbing economic stability, water governance and food security, human mobility, public health, livelihoods, governance, and national resilience. These risks are predominantly substantial for Pakistan, where climate disasters act together with already existing socioeconomic and institutional weaknesses, considering the importance of this global issue, this study reassesses Pakistan’s National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026 which first time in the history of Pakistan recognized Climate Change in National Security framework. Through the perspective of climate change as a non-traditional threat multiplier, this study employs qualitative policy gap analysis as the sole research technique, while using the NSP as the primary policy document and the National Climate Change Policy 2021, National Adaptation Plan 2023, Updated NDC 2021, and 2022 Floods Post-Disaster Needs Assessment as supporting sources for the research. Findings shows that the NSP provides a conceptual foundation for climate-security integration but surrounds with significant gaps between policy recognition and operationalization, particularly concerning water, food, economic, human, displacement, and institutional security. The study recommends stronger institutional synergy between state organs and climate-security coordination, risk assessment, resilience planning, early-warning systems, and measurable indicators.