Call for Papers: Climate Special Issue
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Call for Papers · Special Issue Climate Change, Climate Justice & Climate Finance Development in South Asia A special issue of the Pakistan Development Review on climate and development scholarship for Pakistan and South Asia. Pakistan Development Review · Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad |
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01 · Background
Why this issue, why now
Developing countries across South Asia bear a disproportionate share of climate costs despite contributing relatively little to historical emissions. Pakistan exemplifies this asymmetry: recurrent floods, intensifying heatwaves, water stress in the Indus Basin, and agricultural losses impose enormous economic and social burdens even as the country pursues growth, poverty reduction, and structural transformation.
South Asia shares structural vulnerabilities that make a regional lens necessary — transboundary river systems, monsoon variability, glacier melt in the Himalaya–Karakoram–Hindu Kush, and rising climate-induced migration. This issue brings together empirical and theoretical contributions on climate and development across the region, with Pakistan as a central, though not exclusive, lens — serving as a reference for policymakers, development partners, and researchers.
02 · Objectives
What the issue aims to achieve
| 01 | Rigorous, policy-relevant research on climate and development in South Asia, focused on Pakistan. |
| 02 | An evidence base for adaptation, mitigation, and financing strategies. |
| 03 | Stronger regional academic collaboration and visibility. |
| 04 | Innovative methods — causal inference, spatial econometrics, and machine learning for climate risk. |
| 05 | Recognition of emerging scholarship through a Best Paper Award. |
03 · Framing questions
The questions we hope to answer
| How effective are current climate finance mechanisms in South Asia? | What policies enhance resilience while sustaining growth? |
| How can mitigation be balanced with development priorities? | What institutional reforms improve climate governance? |
04 · Scope
Thematic areas
| Economic & policy analysis | Environmental & social dimensions |
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05 · Guest editors
Editorial approach
Co-edited by experts with complementary expertise in environmental policy and development economics. The issue prioritizes rigorous economic and policy analysis and welcomes quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and econometric contributions. Interdisciplinary work and South Asian scholars and institutions are especially welcome.
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Development Economics Dr. Muhammad Imran Chaudhry King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia |
Environmental Policy Dr. Madiha Riaz Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad |
06 · Submission guidelines
Before you submit
| ✓ Full papers of 4,000–6,000 words, including references and appendices. | ✓ Follow the PDR submission guidelines. |
| ✓ All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. | ✓ Not under review elsewhere at the time of submission. |
| ✓ Preference for policy-relevant, empirically rigorous work. | ✓ Recent methods (causal inference, spatial, machine learning) encouraged. |
| ✓ Please mention the Special Issue title on your paper. | |
07 · Recognition
Best Paper Award
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First prize PKR 100,000 |
Second prize PKR 75,000 |
Third prize PKR 50,000 |
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Ready to submit? All submissions go through the PDR portal. Please mention the Special Issue title on your paper. Questions? Write to the guest editors above. |
