Pakistan has been ranked as the most vulnerable country to climate change in the Climate Risk Index (CRI) for 2025, primarily due to the catastrophic 2022 floods.
These floods, triggered by record-breaking monsoon rains and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), inundated one-third of the country, resulting in over 1,700 deaths, $30 billion in economic losses, and affecting more than 33 million people. The intensity of monsoon rainfall increased by 50% due to climate change, with August 2022 being the wettest since 1961, recording 243% more rainfall than usual.
The report also highlighted Pakistan’s severe heatwaves prior to the floods, which contributed to GLOFs and exacerbated flooding. Despite having a National Adaptation Plan, concerns remain about its implementation. Germanwatch emphasized that vulnerable countries like Pakistan face disproportionate impacts due to limited financial and technical resources for adaptation and mitigation.
Other countries ranked highly in vulnerability include Belize and Italy, while the U.S. was placed seventh. The report underscores the need for high-emitting nations to ramp up mitigation efforts to support countries like Pakistan in managing climate-related risks.