Factors Leading To Declare Climate Emergency In Gilgit-Baltistan 2025
Currently Gilgit-Baltistan has been facing the harsh realities of climate change more than ever before. climate emergency The rapid melting of glaciers is creating unstable glacial lakes that burst without warning. A clear example is the Shishper Glacier in Hassanabad Hunza, which surged in 2022 and caused Floods(For More Details About Floods In Gilgit-baltistan Click Here to read Our Blog).The flashflood destroyed homes, swept away parts of the Karakoram Highway in Hassanabad, and damaged the Hassanabad bridge, Cutting off main routes. Similar events have hit other districts like different villages in Ghizer, Skardu and Chilas, where families are forced to relocate as their homes, farmland and irrigation systems are washed away. In Danyore, near Gilgit city, heavy rains and flash floods caused landslides and swept through neighborhoods, damaging houses and blocking key roads, leaving communities thirsty for weeks. These disasters not only damage infrastructure but also create food insecurity as fertile fields, orchards, and water channels are destroyed. Flashfloods, cloudbursts, and GLOFs are becoming more common, threatening the lives of thousands. For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who depend heavily on farming and glacier water, these changes are more than just environmental shifts, they are challenges for the future.
Climate emergency continues to loom over the region as authorities and communities work to cope with the increasing frequency and intensity of these events.
Why is Gilgit-Baltistan More Vulnerable to Climate Emergency and Climate Change?
Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in Pakistan, despite contributing almost nothing to global emissions. Studies show that Pakistan as a whole contributes less than 1% to the global carbon footprint. and Gilgit-Baltistan’s contribution is even smaller due to its minimal industrial activity and depending on conventional activities like farming. But still this region faces some of the most severe effects of climate change, pushing it closer to a climate emergency.
Gilgit-Baltistan has more than 7,000 glaciers, which is making this region more fragile. Rising global temperatures are accelerating glacial melt, causing Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), flashfloods, and water scarcity. The limited infrastructure, and heavy dependence on glacier water, further increase the risks. While communities here live simply and contribute very little to global warming, they are paying the heavier price with lost homes and destroyed farmland. This contrast highlights the deep injustice of climate change: those who contribute the least are suffering the most, and Gilgit-Baltistan stands as a perfect example of global imbalance in the face of a climate emergency.
When Do Climate Disasters Strike the Hardest?
Climate disasters in Gilgit-Baltistan strike their hardest during the summer months, particularly from July to September, when the combination of monsoon rains and accelerated glacier melt creates a cycle of destruction. Rising temperatures trigger glacial lakes, making them more common to sudden outbursts (GLOFs), while intense cloudbursts overwhelm the fragile mountain valleys. This often leads to:
- Flashfloods,
- Landslides, and
- Road blockages, disrupting not just local lives but also routes like the Karakoram Highway that connect the region with the rest of Pakistan.
A tragic reminder of this vulnerability came in August 2025, when flashfloods and a landslide in Danyore buried Seven volunteers while they were repairing a damaged water channel, highlighting how even community resilience efforts can be swept away in seconds. Beyond Danyore, dozens of villages across Hunza, Nagar, and Ghizer have been hit by sudden floods, displacing families, destroying farmland, and cutting off access to food and healthcare. These disasters strike hardest during the late summer because the warming climate accelerates glacier retreat at the same time heavy rains peak creating a perfect storm of risks. For the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, this means that what used to be occasional natural events are now becoming annual crises, making it a growing climate emergency.
Where Are the Most Affected Regions?
The most affected regions of Gilgit-Baltistan are those lying close to glaciers and rivers, where the impact of climate change is most visible. Districts like Hunza, Nagar, Ghizer, and Skardu are particularly vulnerable because they are home to fast melting glaciers such as Shishper, Passu, and Hopar. These areas have repeatedly suffered from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), flashfloods, and landslides, wiping out roads, farmland, and entire villages. For example, the Shishper Glacier surge in Hunza caused repeated blockages of water channels and destruction of houses, while Nagar has faced floods from glacial lakes bursting during peak summer. In Skardu and Shigar valleys, cloudbursts and heavy rains have triggered sudden floods, damaging bridges and cutting off communities for weeks. The Karakoram Highway, a lifeline for trade and supplies, often gets blocked in Hassanabad, Danyore, and Chilas due to floods and landslides, affecting food and fuel shortages. These repeated disasters show that Gilgit-Baltistan’s most affected regions are not just random locations, but entire valleys that are caught between melting glaciers above and vulnerable river systems below, making the whole region affected by climate change.
How Can Gilgit-Baltistan Adapt to the Climate Emergency?
Adapting to the climate emergency in Gilgit-Baltistan requires both modern innovations and conventional wisdom. Since the region contributes less than 0.5% to global carbon footprint, yet suffers some of the worst impacts, adaptation must focus on resilience and sustainability.
Some essential steps include:
- Community-based glacier monitoring and early warning systems for floods and GLOFs to save lives by providing timely evacuation alerts.
- Climate-smart agriculture such as greenhouse farming, vertical farming, and drip irrigation to help farmers grow food with less water while protecting crops from extreme weather.
- Investing in glacier grafting and artificial glaciers, traditional methods of water storage to secure irrigation for dry months.
- Strengthening infrastructure by building climate-resilient roads, bridges, and protective walls around vulnerable villages to reduce damage during floods and landslides.
- Stronger coordination between local communities, government institutions, and other organizations like AKRSP and ETI-GB to work for the collective good.
- Education and awareness campaigns to empower local people to understand risks and adopt new practices.
By combining science and modern knowledge, Gilgit-Baltistan can create pathways to survive and face the effects of climate change.
Conclusion.
Gilgit-Baltistan today stands on the front of the global climate crisis, a region that contributes almost nothing to the problem, yet shoulders some of its heaviest burdens. Melting glaciers, flashfloods, GLOFs, and cloudbursts are not distant warnings anymore, but daily realities reshaping lives, land, and livelihoods. From Hassanabad’s destroyed bridges to Danyore’s tragic floods and Hunza’s shifting glaciers, every disaster tells a story of loss and resilience. But these stories also carry a louder message: the climate emergency in Gilgit-Baltistan is not just a local issue, it is a global call for justice. Protecting this fragile mountain ecosystem means protecting food security, water sources, and the lives of thousands who depend on them. Adaptation is possible through climate-smart farming, resilient infrastructure, and stronger community preparedness but it requires urgent action and global solidarity. The question is no longer whether Gilgit-Baltistan can survive the climate emergency, but whether the world and the pakistan government will act fast enough to find a proper solution before it hits back.