Climate Change as a Non-Traditional Security Threat in Gilgit-Baltistan: Risks and Responses

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as a profound non-traditional security threat, particularly for ecologically sensitive and geopolitically strategic regions like Gilgit-Baltistan. This study explores the multifaceted security implications of climate change in Gilgit-Baltistan, focusing on glacial melt, water scarcity, natural disasters, livelihood disruptions, and socio-political instability. As a region dependent on glacial resources and vulnerable to extreme weather events, Gilgit-Baltistan faces increasing risks of floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and land degradation, all of which threaten human security, infrastructure, and food systems. Moreover, these environmental stressors can trigger displacement, deepen poverty, and strain local governance, potentially exacerbating tensions in an already fragile socio-political landscape. The research adopts a multidisciplinary approach, combining climate science, human security frameworks, and local stakeholder analysis, to assess the region's vulnerabilities and evaluate current adaptation mechanisms. It concludes by proposing integrated policy responses and community-based resilience strategies aimed at mitigating future climate-related security risks in Gilgit-Baltistan. The findings highlight the urgent need for a coordinated policy framework that recognizes climate change not just as an environmental issue, but also as a critical security concern for the region.

Keywords: Climate change, Gilgit-Baltistan, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, Natural Disasters, Environmental Issue