Maryam Hassan and Fizza Pervaiz
In this century, humanity is facing a serious threat that has undermined the survival of human civilization. One of the most important issues of our day is climate change. Climate refers to the weather patterns that prevail in a region generally or over an extended period, but climate change refers to the change in the environmental conditions of the Earth and atmospheric changes taking place which lead towards alterations in the global eco and biospheres through slow natural processes. We are all affected by this issue, although some regions of the world are more exposed than others. Pakistan is one of those places. Pakistan is located in South Asia between 24-37°N latitude and 61-76°E longitude. It is made up of a series of mountain ranges, and its climate is mostly arid. The country has been hit hard by climate change recently. For instance, Pakistan reported more than 150 extreme weather events between 1998 and 2018. The recent flood in Pakistan has been dubbed the greatest flood in the nation’s history and the deadliest flood in the entire world. It is the most important global environmental challenge facing humanity, with implications for food production, natural ecosystems, fresh water, health, etc. Due to existing severe water shortages, high temperatures, dry land areas, especially arid and semi-arid regions, are most sensitive to these changes. As Mare-Andre said, “Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries facing climate risks”. Factors contributing to climate change: A combination of human-made and natural activities contributes to climate change. According to scientists, seventy-five percent of climate change is caused by human activities like pollution and population growth. The main factor for climate change is the radiative energy produced by greenhouse gases. Fossil fuel combustion produces greenhouse gas emissions, which serve as a blanket around the Earth, trapping solar heat and increasing temperatures. Humans release hazardous gases (such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxides) through a variety of home, commercial, and industrial activities (According to IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report). Global warming is caused by this more quickly than at any other time in recorded history. Deforestation, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide those trees, can absorb, and weather patterns like El Niño, which can result in droughts, are other factors contributing to climate change. Due to changes in the landmass’s physical characteristics, its location, and the placement of water bodies, the industrial revolution and continental drift also affected the climate. The atmosphere is altered by the gases and dust particles released by volcanic eruptions. HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases that, per mass, can be hundreds to thousands of times more effective at causing climate change than carbon dioxide (CO2). According to a recent study, switching to low-GWP HFCs from high-GWP HFCs could prevent 0.1 °C of warming by 2050. The US Department of Defense has highlighted that climate change is the greatest threat to the national security of sovereign states. Impacts of climate change: The weather in Pakistan is getting hotter. Before the current century is complete, the global mean temperature might rise by 1.4 °C to 5.8 °C, according to the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is anticipated that this will significantly affect ecosystems, sea level, crop productivity, and associated activities, as well as the global hydrological system. Salinizations of the soil, flooding from seawater and other factors have made conditions for Pakistani farmers precarious (According to OXFAM (2009): Climate change, poverty and environmental crisis in the disaster-prone areas of Pakistan). Due to global warming, the rise in sea level is seen in Pakistan due to the melting of glaciers, which has resulted in flooding that is badly influencing the growth of crops. Unseasonable rainfall occurs, which makes it difficult for crops to grow and most of the crops get ruined before harvest. Pakistan is an agricultural country, and most of its economy depends on agriculture, so, due to climate change, the economy is affected badly. Products will become expensive when there has been a shortage of food and an imbalance in the demand and supply of products. The immediate effects of climate change on human health include climatically sensitive vector-borne diseases that are already a major source of mortality and morbidity in Pakistan, such as malaria, dengue, typhoid, and cholera, which are known to thrive in hotter climates. Habitats may shift as a result of climate change, and eventually, they may disappear from many places. The latest floods in Pakistan have wreaked tremendous and devastating damage brought on by climate change. In addition to this, 20 million people were displaced, hundreds of kilometers of highways, railway lines, tube wells, electrical transmitters, bridges, cattle, residences, and schools have been damaged. Nearly 80,000 people are still trapped in floodwaters, and about 400 children are missing. (Zia Mustafa says in, “Climate Change And its Impact with Special Focus in Pakistan”). Climate change is lowering the quality and quantity of resources. In the future, a new category of refugees called “Climate Refugees” will emerge. There won’t be any fresh water available to drink. As Imran Khan said, “In 90s,when people talked about climate change, no one understood but now everyone, especially people from rural areas where they are more close to nature can see the impact of climate change’’. Suggestions and recommendations: It is crucial to connect with the public and raise awareness of its dangers. People don’t give climate change enough weight. The public should be made aware of media tactics. The task of raising awareness about this awful scenario of climatic changes is greatly assisted by films like “A Day after Tomorrow” or “An Inconvenient Truth.” The main cause of climate change is toxic emissions. Instead of using private transportation, one should develop a public transportation-oriented behavior. Due to their lower pollution rates, hybrid vehicles should be used. (Shahzad, U. August, R (2015). Global warming: Causes, effects and solutions). Fossil fuel use should be minimized because it is one of the main causes of environmental deterioration. Alternative energy sources, including wind, bio, hydro, and solar energy, should be utilized in its place. The best response to climate challenges is renewable energy. (Shahzad, U. August, R, (2015). Global warming: Causes, effects and solutions). People should take short showers and avoid unnecessary water consumption. All industries need to put filters on their chimneys so that poisonous gases do not pollute the atmosphere. Priorities should guide the development of policies for adaptation and mitigation, which should then be carried out strictly. Along with taking steps to extend the life of current storage facilities, building dams is crucial to assessing and resolving Pakistan’s growing water crisis. (According to GOP (2012). Ministry of Climate Change: National Climate Change Policy Government of Pakistan). The use of energy-efficient appliances is more reliable. Planting trees and supporting initiatives that help reforestation efforts are also important. It is necessary to develop mechanisms and support proactive adaptation under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by facilitating comprehensive national policies and providing dependable funding for high-priority implementation projects. Implement national industrial and energy strategies that would help mitigate global warming by lowering or minimizing GHG emissions. Make sustainable development policies more inclusive of climate change measures. Population planning should be considered a long-term solution to the global warming problem (Zia Mustafa says in, “Climate Change And its Impact with Special Focus in Pakistan”). Climate change is reshaping our world. Even though developing countries like Pakistan produce fewer greenhouse gases than industrialized countries do, they are nonetheless severely impacted by the dangers of climate change. Climate change is the biggest issue which is to be concerned about everything and quick action should be taken so that Pakistan and its people will be protected and have a better life. The government is obligated to act and inform the populace about weather changes. These policies must be put into practice in all spheres of economic activity if Pakistan is to achieve high economic development. Dealing with the challenges of climate change, adaptation, and mitigation policies, as well as good governance, would be beneficial.
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