The climate cost of coal

The message is stark and urgent. As Pakistan faces yet another sweltering summer, its chief meteorologist has issued a grave warning that the country's reliance on coal-fired power plants is an active driver of the extreme weather events now battering the nation with increasing intensity. From deadly heatwaves to devastating flash floods, the cost of coal is existential.

Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change is well-documented. But what is often overlooked is the country's internal contribution to this crisis. While global emissions remain a primary driver, the local increase in carbon dioxide — thanks in large part to the coal-based power generation projects recently installed in Sindh — is adding fuel to the fire.

These plants emit significant greenhouse gases, trapping heat in the atmosphere and setting the stage for more frequent and violent climatic events.

If mitigation and adaptation capacities are not rapidly scaled up, Pakistan will find itself fighting a losing battle on multiple fronts — energy insecurity in particular. It is therefore imperative for Pakistan to shift decisively toward renewable sources of energy.

Solar, wind and hydropower remain underutilised, despite the country's natural abundance in these resources. Pakistan's energy planners must revisit and revise the national power policy, moving away from short-sighted, high-emission solutions and investing instead in decentralised and resilient energy systems.

The long-term cost of coal is far too high — not just in terms of environmental degradation but in lives lost and livelihoods disrupted. Thus, energy transition has literally become a matter of survival.

Policymakers must move beyond piecemeal reforms. What is needed is a clear, time-bound roadmap to retire coal, invest in renewables and protect Pakistan's future from the smoke of its present.