The Impact of Global Climate Change on Pakistan

 
 
 
Posted by: IIPS Category: Social sector Comments: 0

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most serious challenges to the long-term sustainability of life on Earth. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have increased due to human activity, causing temperatures to rise. These climate changes can result in extreme weather, floods, droughts, and cyclones etc. Though there have always been natural climate changes, scientists claim that temperatures are presently rising at an alarming rate and that this is due to human activity. The world is around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than before humans began using oil, gas, and coal to power companies, transport, and heat their homes. The greenhouse gases produced by the combustion of fossil fuels trap the Sun’s energy, causing temperatures to rise. Continue reading to understand the impact of climate change in Pakistan. 

Impact of Climate Change

Climate change is poised to alter lifestyles by producing water shortages and making food production more difficult. Because of rising sea levels, some areas may become dangerously hot and others uninhabitable. In addition, the melting of polar ice and glaciers is contributing to rising sea levels. As a result, extreme weather phenomena, such as heatwaves, torrential rains, and storms, will become more common and extreme, posing a threat to people’s lives and livelihoods. People in poverty, who are least able to adapt, will bear the brunt of the consequences. While some species will be able to relocate as their habitats change, many will certainly die extinct due to climate change. More than 200 climate experts recently published a report detailing how quickly the climate is warming, revealing that heatwaves, extreme rain, and severe droughts are rising (Mustafa, 2010). The evidence for global warming is overwhelming, but how quickly governments can reduce heat-trapping pollutants will determine future disasters’ magnitude.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations agency established in 1988 to examine climate change science. This UN panel has analysed more than 14000 scientific papers. It provides governments with scientific data that they can utilise to design global warming strategies. In 1992, the first of its comprehensive climate change assessment reports were published. The sixth book in the series will be divided into four parts, including scientists and representatives from 195 governments (UNDP, 2019). 

The Vulnerability of Pakistan

According to environmentalists, Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change due to its agricultural economy, which is focused on irrigated agriculture and is located in arid and semi-arid regions. In addition, government attempts to address forests and greenhouse gas emissions are insufficient. As a result, Pakistan’s average temperatures are expected to rise significantly above the global average by the 2090s, with a projected rise of 1.3°C-4.9°C over the 1986-2005 baseline. Pakistan is rated 18th out of 191 countries, with some of the worst disaster risk ratings globally (Chaudhry, 2017). 

With increasing glacier melt, protracted droughts, scorching winters and early summers, Pakistan is experiencing the negative effects of climate change, significantly affecting water supplies and total agricultural production. Because the country has a low forest cover (4.5 percent) and a high pace of deforestation (0.2-0.4 percent per year), the carbon sinks are rapidly depleting (Chaudhry, 2017). Climate change is projected to have long-term consequences for biodiversity (species extinction and habitat loss), water availability, food security, human health, and overall well-being.

Major Environmental Concerns in Pakistan

Increased monsoon variability, the expected influence of receding Himalayan glaciers on the Indus River system, decreasing reservoir capacity, reduced electricity during drought years, and extreme occurrences such as floods and droughts are among Pakistan’s climate change concerns. Severe water stress, food insecurity due to decreased agricultural and livestock production; more widespread pests and weeds; ecosystem degradation; biodiversity loss; and northward relocation of some biomes are all potential climate change-related consequences. In addition, increasing temperatures may impact mangrove composition, distribution, and production, while decreasing precipitation may contribute to saline inundation (Planning Commission, 2010).

The way forward 

Pakistan acknowledges that identifying and implementing effective adaptation solutions begins with improving and completing vulnerability assessments. To develop an effective adaptation plan, there is a major need to improve information sharing, education and training, technical and scientific research, as stated in Pakistan’s Initial National Communication. In addition, there is a need to discover acceptable technologies for adaptation that are well-suited to local conditions and build on local expertise.

Bibliography

Chaudhry, Q. U. (2017). Climate Change Profile of Pakistan. Asian Development Bank. Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/357876/climate-change-profile-pakistan.pdf

Mustafa, Z. (2010). CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT WITH SPECIAL FOCUS IN PAKISTAN. Retrieved from https://www.pecongress.org.pk/images/upload/books/8-Climate%20Change%20and%20its%20Impact%20with%20Special%20Focus%20in%20Pakistan.pdf

Planning Commission. (2010). Task Force on Climate Change: Final Report. Government of Pakistan. Retrieved from http://www.gcisc.org.pk/TFCC%20Final%20Report.pdf

UNDP. (2019). Climate Change Adaption. UNDP. Retrieved from https://www.adaptation-undp.org/explore/pakistan

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Research Questions

What are the impacts of global climate change on Pakistan?

What are the major environmental concerns of Pakistan?

How to tackle the impact of climate change in Pakistan? [/fancy_box][fancy_box box_style=”color_box_basic” icon_family=”fontawesome” image_url=”8182″ box_color_opacity=”1″ box_alignment=”left” border_radius=”default” image_loading=”default” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-envelope-open” icon_size=”60″]

Key Takeaways

Climate change is one of the most serious challenges to the long-term sustainability of life on Earth. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have increased due to human activity, causing temperatures to rise.

The world is around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than before humans began using oil, gas, and coal to power companies, transport, and heat their homes.

More than 200 climate experts recently published a report detailing how quickly the climate is warming, revealing that heatwaves, extreme rain, and severe droughts are on the rise.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a United Nations agency established in 1988 to examine climate change science. More than 14,000 scientific papers were analysed by this UN panel (UNDP, 2019).

Pakistan’s average temperatures are expected to rise significantly above the global average by the 2090s, with a projected rise of 1.3°C-4.9°C over the 1986-2005 baseline (Chaudhry, 2017).

Pakistan has a low forest cover (4.5 percent) and a high pace of deforestation (0.2-0.4 percent per year), the carbon sinks are rapidly depleting and causing environmental challenges (Chaudhry, 2017).

Increased monsoon variability, the expected influence of receding Himalayan glaciers on the Indus River system, decreasing reservoir capacity, reduced electricity during drought years, and extreme occurrences such as floods and droughts are among Pakistan’s climate change concerns (Planning Commission, 2010).[/fancy_box]

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