Pakistan is ground zero for the consequences of climate change
Pakistan’s contribution to the world’s greenhouse gases, blamed for the increased levels of global warming, is 0.8 percent. Yet, the country’s 200 million people are among the world’s most vulnerable victims of the growing consequences of climate change.
The country continues to face the consequences of rising temperatures -- in the form of heat waves, droughts and flooding which threaten agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, and jeopardize the health of its people. This does away with any hopes for the development of a nation that ranks at the bottom of the list of countries based on their per capita income.
Pakistan is among the world’s 10 countries most impacted by climate change. Global warming has turned the winter weather tables upside down. There’s a gradual reduction in the number of days in winter, with a day added to the summer season with each passing year, according to the Pakistan Met department. More than a decade ago, summer would last for 145 days and that has now increased to 170. Additionally, a shift in the patterns for winter and summer rainfalls has badly affected the agricultural sector, too.
It is projected that by 2050, nearly a 100 million more people will become a part of the census in Pakistan, which already ranks sixth in the world population list, thereby increasing the demand for food and water, and causing an additional strain on the already precarious resources of the country. Feeding the growing population will be a challenge in the days to come as the melting glaciers and increasing rate of water evaporation -- caused by hotter temperatures – would translate into a reduced water supply for irrigation purposes and smaller yields of staples such as rice and wheat.
Additionally, the country’s ambitious plans for economic development could lead to urbanization, industrialization and eventually more vehicles on the roads and a greater demand for electricity. In order to meet these requirements, Pakistan has to rely on its indigenous coal deposits, which will, in turn, increase the carbon emissions by an estimated 300 percent over the next 15 years.
Despite all the challenges we face today due to global warming, it is still not considered a major issue in the corridors of power. The masses too seem to be unaware of the perils of climate change.
Dr. Mehreen Mujtaba
Pakistan is ground zero for the consequences of climate change. Over the past few years, the subsequent governments have pledged to reduce emissions by 2030, as required by the nations that signed the Paris Accord, without detailing how they plan to accomplish the objectives keeping the development aspirations in mind.
Given the urgent need to mitigate climate risks, the Green Pakistan Programme -- envisioned by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif -- was launched in March 2016 to communicate the country’s seriousness in reinvigorating the ailing forestry sector, among other measures to boost the country’s climate resilience.
The incumbent government has shown its commitment to combat the woes of climate change. However, the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) will be one of the major challenges for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf-led government. The previous administration could not execute plans due to a lack of coordination and cooperation between the center and the provinces. There is an urgent need for the provincial governments to roll out climate change adaptation plans in agriculture, energy, water, irrigation, health, education, and other socio-economic sectors to decrease the country’s climate vulnerability; in addition to expediting the implementation process of the NCCP, whereby different climate risks and solutions for the same have been identified.
They must also develop heat and drought-resistant varieties of crops for maximum resilience during extreme changes in weather patterns. In order to combat the increasing woes of climate change, investing in renewable energy sources, water storage, reforestation, improved weather forecasting and early warning systems is the need of the day.
Despite all the challenges we face today due to global warming, it is still not considered a major issue in the corridors of power. The masses too seem to be unaware of the perils of climate change. It is imperative to introduce massive social media campaigns to educate the public. One way to do this could be by adding the topic to the school curriculum. The government should also work towards creating a conducive environment for evidence-based research, in order to conduct empirical studies on the environmental, economic and social impacts of climate change.
– The writer is a freelance consultant working in the area of environment and health. She has a keen interest in Climate Change and its impacts on population health and human security.
