Zaman Bajwa
The Sustainable Development Goals SDGs highlight climate action as Goal 13 in the face of a major global issue that is affecting economies, communities, and continents worldwide, making it one of the most pressing topics of the 21st Century among both academics and policymakers. Who is to be blamed for this rising trouble and what exactly are its consequences? In the 1800s, human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have been labeled as the principal driver of fast climate change, which is intimately connected to environmental degradation. In the lens of “World system theory”, the core-statesare the developed countries which are possessing superior technology and industries that are responsible for the bulk of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. However, the peripheral states or emerging economies especially those located at lower elevations are suffering froma disproportionate amount of the impacts of global warming. The increased intensity and frequency of natural disasterssuch as floods as well as decreased agricultural output and deteriorating public health are the consequences. Instead of taking the blame, the developed nations have passed the buck to less privileged states. Now the International Forum has declared Poverty as one of the major drivers of Climate change. Hence, achieving SDGs Goal 1 “Eradicating poverty” is considered crucial because of its strong link to both environmental decline and climate change. Hard luck, Pakistan falls into the category of nations that suffer due to both of these Climate Change drivers. The devastating floods in Pakistan serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address this global calamity. Pakistan is among those developing economies which are suffering most because of climate change even though Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions; its poor economic conditions and its geographical vulnerability make it disproportionately affected by extreme weather events.Pakistan has not yet recovered from the aftermath of the 2022 floods which affected nearly one-third of the country, and now faces a recurring cycle of flooding. Between July 1 and August 1, 2024, monsoon rains and flash floods have already resulted in the deaths of 108 people, injuries to 216 individuals, and damage to over 550 houses across the country. These floods were not an isolated event. They fit within a larger pattern of altered weather patterns associated with global warming. The Himalayas and Hindu Kush glaciers, which fuel Pakistan’s river systems, are melting as a result of rising world temperatures. These alterations have made floods and droughts more likely, along with unpredictable rainfall patterns, severely impacting the nation’s reservoirs and crop yields. Since Pakistan’s economy is dependent upon its agricultural sector, which constitutes 19.5% of the nation’s GDP and employs 42.3% of its labor force, is now facing pronounced susceptibility to climate change. Not to be overlooked, the floods of 2022 already causeddetrimental effects, with an estimated 45% of the cotton crop, 31% of rice output, and 35% of the maize harvest lost. These negative effects highlight how urgently resilience techniques are needed to protect food security and agricultural livelihoods in the face of changing climatic circumstances in the year 2024. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact published their research that estimated that with increasing impacts of Global warming and Climate change, the average rainfall in the South Asian summer monsoon season will be increased. Pakistan is an easy target in this case study due to its immense glaciers which are often labeled as part of the third pole.Pakistan’s glacial ice is melting quickly due to an increase in global temperatures. More than three thousand lakes have formed as a result of this phenomenon. They are melting quickly, endangering ecosystems and local populations. Roughly 33 of these lakes might suddenly burst, endangering the 7 million people who live downstream as predicted. The condition in the province of Balochistan especially Sindh is even worse with scarce resources, a dysfunctional drainage system, and poor town planning. Academics and policymakers all across the world discuss debates ontopics like climate change. For them, it’s only a theory but for the citizens of Pakistan it’s a living reality; a nightmare as they are personally witnessing the effects of climate change. Eradicating poverty and providing education have now become less pressing issues in comparison to this new challenge in Pakistan. We now have to consider how we even begin to develop for the future. In retrospect, Pakistan’s budget 2024-2025 came as a mixed bag for Climate action plans. The document acknowledges the alarming situation due to Climate change such as heat-waves across the country as well as the flood situation. In addition to it, it also announced zero import duty on the raw solar panel materials and equipment. For the next fiscal year, Rs6.25 billion has been allotted to the climate change division. The government has allocated Rs 225 billion for climate change mitigation and Rs 53 billion for climate change adaptation in the budget for the first time. The point to ponder is that all this financing for the Climate Action Plan has come without any proper plan and strategy to achieve the goal. Moreover, this document also failed to inculcate a Carbon tax which was supposed to appease the IMF. In a nutshell, the future of Pakistan is at risk, thus comprehensive, coordinated, and persistent action is needed on both the local and international fronts to address the complex consequences of climate change.It will take longer to address this catastrophe and develop long-term solutions to ensure a sustainable future for everybody, in addition to quick adaptation and mitigation measures. Environment activist Wangari Maathai sums up the gravity of the situation by saying, “The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”Not only Pakistan but also the International and Regional Organizations need to strategize a plan to tackle this issue on an urgent basis as Climate change with its domino impact is collectively impacting all the countries at the lower belt. Quick action and implementation are the need of the hour to save Pakistan from drowning.