The Gender-Climate Nexus in Pakistan: Assessing Impacts and Barriers to Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the gender-climate nexus on sustainable development in Pakistan, highlighting implementation barriers and effectiveness factors. Grounded in sustainable development theory, it adopts a qualitative descriptive approach, using purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders including experts from government officials, GIZ Pakistan (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH), National Commission on Status of Women, academia, andthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supplemented by policy documents such as ccGAP and NCSW publications. Findings reveal that while Pakistan has gender-inclusive climate policies, their impact remains limited due to structural patriarchy, governance gaps, insufficient gender-responsive infrastructure, restricted access to green finance for women, and the marginalization of vulnerable subgroups. The study underscores the critical need for targeted financial instruments, gender-sensitive disaster responses, inclusive governance, and capacity-building to translate policy into practice. By identifying these obstacles and proposing strategic priorities, the research contributes toward realizing sustainable, gender-equitable climate resilience in Pakistan