Pakistan is
a country whose contribution to the causes of climate change are not many but
probably Pakistan is among the countries who are in the top list of countries
badly impacted by global climatically changes . Climate change can generally be
defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns. In particular, it can
be attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide
produced by the use of fossil fuels, or “A change of climate which is
attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition
of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate
variability observed over comparable time periods.” Climate Change is a change
in weather patterns when it lasts for an extended period of time. It is a hot
issue of these days as it is affecting the world in several ways. As it can be
seen by changing patterns of weather in different regions of world climate is
changing drastically.
We all know
it clearly that climate change has caused drastic effects in the world climate,
such as the rise of carbon dioxide level, global temperature, melting of ice
sheets, rise of sea levels, and ocean acidification. For this change, a range
of human activities is responsible. Human activities are the major cause of
climate change. The foremost cause is global warming. Burning fossil fuels,
such as coal and oil, has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide. Due to
expansion of the greenhouse effect, global warming has risen. The main causes
of climate change include the emission of greenhouse gases, burning of fossil
fuels, deforestation, increasing livestock farming, excessive use of
fertilizers, use of aerosol sprays and many more. Deforestation and increase in
the use of chemicals in domestic and agriculture life is another reason of
climate change. Deforestation is another leading cause of global warming and
produces about 24 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases
include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and other fluorinated gases. Carbon
dioxide is the main greenhouse gas which is added to the atmosphere by burning
of the fossil. Its concentration is 40% higher than it was when
industrialization started. Other greenhouse gases are emitted in smaller
quantities, but they trap heat more effectively than carbon dioxide and in some
cases thousand times stronger.
Almost all
the causes of climate change are due to human activities. Humans are cutting
down trees, burning fossil fuels at an alarming rate, using a lot of
fertilizers and increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Due to
these anthropogenic activities, the ozone is also depleting. Mining, oil
spills, drilling for oil and gas etc are also affecting the wild and marine
life in the Arctic. The depleting of ozone is leading to melting of glaciers in
Antarctica and Arctic regions. This, in turn, is responsible for rising of sea
levels in different continents of the world. This increasing of sea level is a
major threat to island countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, and other Marshall
islands.
Pakistan’s
climate change concerns include increased variability of monsoons, the likely
impact of receding Himalayan glaciers on the Indus River system, decreased
capacity of water reservoirs, reduced hydropower during drought years, and
extreme events including floods and droughts. Pakistan’s concerns included
increased variability of monsoon, receding of Himalayan glacier’s likely impact on Indus River system flows, decreased
capacity of water reservoirs and extreme events including floods and droughts.
He said that climate change would induce severe water stress, and Pakistan will
face food insecurity due to decreasing agricultural production. Beside these we
are also facing the degradation of ecosystems, biodiversity loss and saline
water intrusion in the aquifers.
Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
Pakistan is
the fifth most climate vulnerable nation in the world. Between 1998 and 2018,
according to the Global Climate Risk Index, the country is estimated to have
lost nearly 10,000 lives to climate-related disasters. Pakistan has also
suffered economically due to climate change and losses amounting to about $4
billion from 152 extreme weather events in that period. Analysts have estimated
Pakistan’s climate migrants over the past decade at around 30 million people. Pakistan’s
water cycle is the primary affected area of climate change. Agriculture is one
of the major sectors likely to be adversely affected by climate change. Climate
change can disrupt food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food
quality. Projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation
patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water
availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity. Seasonal smog
is also due to climate change and pollution.
According to
experts, Pakistan has faced around 150 freak weather incidents as a result of
climate change in the past 20 years: flash floods, smog in winter, forest fires
in summer, melting glaciers, freaky heat waves, landslides, displaced population.
The major effects of climate change are global warming, ozone layer depletion,
a rise of sea levels, melting of glaciers and destruction of habitats for many
living organisms and cause of many diseases. The ozone layer depletion is
resulting in many skins and breathing diseases. The frequency of floods has
also increased drastically. The patterns of rain are also disturbed by climate
change. Now, the number of rains per season is also decreasing due to the
cutting of forests and many other environmental factors, resulting in soil and
water erosion which directly affects agriculture. The biggest effect of climate
change is global warming, increase in earth’s temperature, which is the main
cause of acute drought conditions. The availability of water for domestic and
agricultural uses is badly affected by it.
As a result
of these climatically changes Pakistan is facing Social, environmental and economic impacts which are of great
concern in developing countries like Pakistan, making people more vulnerable to
effects of these hazards. As a result of abrupt climate changes 65-70% of
country’s population is directly or indirectly related to agriculture. Water
resources of Pakistan are getting scarce which directly relates to food
insecurity, especially in rural areas. The arid and semi-arid zones are the
most vulnerable to climate change as these regions are already facing water
shortage and high temperature.
With unexpected
seasonal changes crops are having adverse effects and leading to changing
sowing time for crops which consequently changes irrigation requirements which
modify the properties of soil and increase the risk of pest and disease attack,
negatively altering agricultural productivity. Climate change scenarios have
resulted in an increase in the epidemic potential for 12-27 percent for malaria
and 31-47 percent of dengue. Mean annual temperature has increased in the
recent past with greater increase in Sindh and Baluchistan. The threats go
beyond glacier melt in the Himalayas and Karakorum as it would also face
serious consequences from sea level rise threatening Karachi, Thatta and Badin
and the coastline
Possible Solutions to Climate Change
Although it’s
a much bigger challenge that we all are assuming and it will need much
concentrated efforts not on an individual level but globally, however here are some solutions that I can suggest for
improving if not eliminating the deteriorating climate change situation and it
will involve community, individuals, governments and other agencies of the
world.
Ø Pakistan needs immediate assistance
of environment friendly technology transfer.
Ø Capacity building, support in promoting Clean
Development Mechanism for mitigating climate change.
Ø Financing to adapt in sectors of
agriculture, water and disasters.
Ø More and more trees should be
planted.
Ø Energy should be used efficiently.
Ø We should go for renewable power
sources.
Ø Pakistan needs to go all out in
increasing its green cover by bringing new areas under plantation especially on
farms.
Ø We should bring more area under
forest cover and improving management of the trees.
Ø Floods, drought sand storms are
forecasted with agriculture, water, energy, health as sectors requiring
priority action.
Ø The garbage should not be burned or
burry in landfills. It may be made composts for kitchen gardens.
Ø Conserve water as much as we can and
should not waste it.
Ø We should introduce Electric
automobiles.
Ø There is an immediate needs to combat
climate without which Pakistan may not achieve its developmental targets.
Ø Media should spread awareness
regarding the effects of climate change.
Ø Use eco-friendly appliances.
Ø We must reduce emissions and stabilize
the levels of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.
Ø We must adapt climate-friendly
lifestyles and pursue the principles of sustainable economic growth.
Ø To check carbon emissions go for
recycling.
Ø The treatment of industrial waste
should be made mandatory all over the world.
Ø Governments should start taking this
problem seriously.
Ø They should implement Paris agreement
in their countries.
Ø They should start investing in
projects which can try to minimize climate change.
Ø Plastic should not be used.
Environment-friendly shopper bags should be used.
Ø Use of aerosol sprays should be
minimized.
Ø The misuse of fertilizers should be
avoided.
Ø Water should be used wisely.
Ø The power generation should be done
by environmental friendly means.
Ø Conservation practices should be adopted regarding agriculture.
Let’s hope and pray
that we will pass on a better and at-least climatically safer Pakistan to our
next generations.
BY:
Ovais Asad Khan
