THE stark reality of climate change is not a theoretical debate for the people living in southern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where agricultural output is affected harshly by erratic shifts in weather patterns. While those in positions of power, ensconced in their climate-controlled havens, may afford to dismiss the urgency of the crisis, the people cannot.

The disconnect between the insulated lives of policymakers and the harsh realities faced by vulnerable communities is a dangerous chasm. It is a chasm that allows for complacency, leading to the prioritisation of short-term gains over long-term sustainability.

In our region, rainstorms laden with hailstones obliterate crops, droughts destroy the land, and flash floods sweep away fragile infrastructure. These are not isolated incidents; they are the increasingly frequent manifestations of a climate in crisis.

The irony is profound: those who contribute the least to climate change are bearing the brunt of its consequences. The farmers whose livelihoods are destroyed, and the families whose homes are washed away are considered nothing more than collateral damage by a system that prioritises the comfort of a few over the consequences faced by the masses.

The notion that the impacts of climate change are confined to remote, margi-nalised areas is a dangerous fallacy. Instability anywhere in the country undermines the stability of the entire nation. The destruction of livelihoods, the displacement of communities, and the erosion of infrastructure are not localised problems; they are national security threats.

A decade ago, the time for decisive action would have been ideal. Today, it is imperative. We require investment in resilient infrastructure, sustainable agricultural practices, and water conservation initiatives. We need a national commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels and embracing renewable energy.

This is not a plea for charity; it is a demand for justice. It is a demand for recognition that the climate crisis is not a distant threat, but a present danger. The time for denial is over. The time for action is now. Let us bridge the chasm between privilege and peril, and build a future where resilience and sustainability are not luxuries, but fundamental rights.

Anwar Sayab Khan
Bannu

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025