In Pakistan, there is a singular point of consensus on climate change: the country contributes minimally to global emissions yet suffers disproportionately from its impacts. Beyond this, agreement on other aspects of climate change - whether mitigation strategies or adaptation measures - is virtually nonexistent. While academic debate on such issues can be constructive, it often lacks a solid foundation, hindering progress toward a unified solution. For instance, there is no clarity on the balance between regulatory oversight and market-based mechanisms to address climate impacts. The government touts its ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2035, with 17% unconditional cuts and 33% conditional reductions. However, stakeholders tasked with implementing this plan disagree on prioritising key actions, such as decarbonising industries, transitioning to renewable energy, adopting climate-smart agriculture, or pursuing a robust REDD approach. Similarly, adaptation efforts are hampered by ineffective systems, such as early warning mechanisms that fail due to a top-down managerial approach, neglecting the participatory methods needed to incorporate indigenous knowledge. This pervasive dissent fosters climate inaction in a nation increasingly recognised for promising much but delivering little.

A new debate is emerging in Pakistan about who qualifies as a climate change expert. This echoes a similar discussion from decades ago about who could claim the title of environmentalist: those with degrees in environmental engineering or those in........

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