Understanding the Realities of Climate Change in Pakistan
Glaciers are melting, water levels are rising, and catastrophic weather patterns are occurring all over the world. Climate change has put several countries at risk, with emerging economies bearing the brunt of the burden. As a result of this critical issue, South Asia has become more vulnerable to natural disasters, which is having a detrimental effect on the region.
Pakistan is in a region where the effects of climate change are already being felt strongly. This natural disaster has had a significant negative impact on the economy, society, and the environment. The 20 million people who were displaced or went missing as a result of the 2010 floods had already been deeply affected. A second wave of flood caused similar devastation in Pakistan in 2012. Flooding puts Pakistan’s food, housing, and security in danger. The German Watch Institute ranked it among the top ten countries in the world severely affected by climate change. Tourism has increased to an unprecedented level in northern areas due to increased urbanization and development, but human activities have disrupted the natural distribution. To add to this, climate change is causing glacier melts, which cause flooding and shatter the lives of people living in such areas whose bread and butter is primarily dependent on natural resources.
Pakistan, as a developing country with limited resources, must take this issue seriously. Climate change has long-term negative effects on our species, and it poses an existential threat to the world’s democracies. While the United States, India, and the European Union are committed to fighting for carbon reduction, we must also play our part for our own and the world’s benefit. The relationship between democracies and climate change is very visible, as this catastrophic issue is causing water scarcity, food shortages, shelter shortages, migration, and many other problems in democratic states that are interconnected globally. Democracies make up half of the world and account for the majority of all emission levels.
Their struggle will determine the future state of the world’s climate and will demonstrate their worth as a governing institution. Furthermore, climate change endangers national security and is accelerating over time. Food security, shelter security, water security, border security, and all other aspects of security in an individual’s life are all part of national security. Climate change is akin to an accelerator of instability in our country.
With a possible rise of 1.3c-4.9c by the 2090s, Pakistan’s average temperature will be higher than the global average. Extreme weather is expected, and dry heat waves are becoming more common. The Thar desert, southern Punjab, and southwestern Balochistan are particularly vulnerable to climate change because agriculture and herding are the main sources of income in these regions, which are weather dependent, and weather dependencies are impacted by climate change.
According to a joint study titled “Climate Risk Country Profile,” Pakistan has consistently experienced average maximum temperatures in the world, with an average maximum of 36 degrees Celsius in June. The report stated that problems with cooling nuclear and thermal power plants could reduce their efficiency. Heat waves have a 3% chance of having serious consequences for human health. According to the study, 65,000 people in Pakistan were hospitalized due to heatstroke in 2015. As Pakistan’s weather patterns become more unpredictable, living standards suffer, leading to poverty, disease, and increased crime rates. People’s health and ability to seek healthcare will suffer significantly as a result of the loss of their livelihoods. In our country, 39% of the population is impoverished. Heat exhaustion, malnutrition, the spread of vector-borne illnesses such as dengue fever, an increase in the prevalence of aquatic infections, and other factors will make it difficult for people to work and support themselves.
Pakistan is an emerging or middle-income economy, with 42% of its GDP made up of agriculture with gradual industrialization, but it is facing more serious consequences in the short and long run than developed economies, which are contributing significantly to this disastrous situation. Third-world countries are suffering the most because they lack the resources to deal with the situation. Our neighbouring country, India, is talking about achieving its goal of “Net Zero Emissions” by 2070, and PM Narendra Modi has proposed five points, Panchamrita, as a strategy to accomplish the mission, and its climate change missions are commendable, but we are still contributing less.
Almost 1.2 million livestock were displaced as a result of the recent floods in mid-June, along with numerous casualties. Around 15% of rice crops and 40% of cotton crops have been destroyed. Displacement has created issues with urbanization and employment. Corruption has proven to be a significant impediment to strengthening the measures. The places are made more vulnerable by a lack of dams, construction in flood-prone areas, and poor-quality roads and bridges.
The most important metric is ‘awareness,’ which requires citizens to understand what climate change is and what its implications are. The government of Pakistan should make this a mandatory part of the curriculum. Seminars led by educated people play an important role in assisting youth to learn and participate in society. Awareness campaigns are required, and the best tool for this is social media.
Government and military should work on short-term and long-term plans, which require both intellectual minds and financial resources. Prevention is impossible if money is not spent excessively to improve and rebuild infrastructure. Carbon dioxide reduction and lead control are critical measures for mitigating global warming. Carbon dioxide is primarily produced as a result of industrialization, and lead is primarily produced as a result of automobile combustion. Despite the fact that industrialization is low in Pakistan, the country is at a much higher risk of disaster, owing to the proximity of industrialized and progressive countries. Commitment to the international communities in this regard will enable Pakistan in dealing with the situation.
The writer is currently studying at National Defense University, Islamabad & is also associated as Research Associate with IPCA.