Carbon Giants and Climate Victims: Sino-Indian Emissions and Pakistan’s Climate Insecurity

Abstract

The study investigates the approach, China, India and Pakistan each respond to changes in the climate, with particular attention to their roles on the international platform. As “carbon giants,” China and India are developing emission strategies that perceive climate action as a way to boost their positions in the world. “Climate Victim”, Pakistan, which has little impact on climate change but is exposed to its risks, treats climate change as a serious security challenge. Utilizing a dual-theoretical approach; Strategic Constructivism for India and China, and Securitization Theory for Pakistan, the paper highlights how national identity, developmental priorities, and perceived injustices shape climate narratives and policies. The flooding disasters in 2010 and 2022 in Pakistan highlight the way the country focuses on climate security to get more international support. The study points out that important failures in multilateral organizations and diplomacy have stopped regional cooperation, especially due to the inability of meetings of SAARC and the India-Pakistan feud. The paper concludes that, in Pakistan, its climate diplomacy now uses morality, security, and justice as key strategies, while regional cooperation is not very strong. The study urges South Asian countries to include climate security in their national plans and restart regional talks to help overcome misunderstandings and make the region stronger against climate threats.

Keywords: Climate Justice, Regional Climate Governance, Securitization, environmental security, Climate Diplomacy