Climate change
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is the long-term shift in average weather patterns across the world.
Since the mid-1800s, humans have contributed to the release of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases into the air.
This causes global temperatures to rise, resulting in long-term changes to the climate.
The rapid climate change we are now seeing is caused by humans using oil, gas and coal
for their homes, factories and transport.
INTRODUCTION
Climate change is the biggest problems the whole world is collectively facing.
The deterioration of the earth’s climate can be seen and felt most obviously in South East Asia, particularly
Pakistan.
Due to climate change, Pakistan faces numerous economic, social, geographical and political problems.
Already the hazardous impacts of climate change in the form of smog and abnormal heatwaves have
claimed precious lives.
climate change may induce a social, geographical and political imbalance which would entail a host of
challenging problems.
PAKISTAN AND CLIMATE CHANGE
CURRENT SCENARIO
Climate change has been one of the most talked about issue, particularly since the start of
the twenty first century.
Climate change in Pakistan is a major issue for the country.
Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change.
As with the changing climate in South Asia as a whole, the climate of Pakistan has
changed over the past several decades, with significant impacts on the environment and
people.
In addition to increased heat, drought and extreme weather in parts of the country, the
melting of glaciers in the Himalayas has impacted some of the important rivers of Pakistan
.
According to German watch, publisher of the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI),
Pakistan is the seventh most vulnerable country to climate change.
IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change has serious implications for Pakistan, which will only worsen with the
passage of time unless adequate measures are taken.
Pakistan faces many challenges in the backdrop of worsening climatic conditions. These
problems are not restricted to any specific area of life, rather they extend to almost every
sphere of life, complementing each other.
Following are some impacts of climate changes.
1. Economic impacts
2. Social Impacts
3. Geographical impacts
4. Political impacts
ECONOMICS IMPACTS
Agriculture sector deterioration
Manufacturing sector in harm’s way
Shrinking economy, tax base and human development
AGRICULTURE SECTOR
DETERIORATION
In the economic sphere, climate change poses a formidable threat.
Water availability, over the years, has been decreasing for the agriculture sector.
Since Pakistan is heavily dependent on the agriculture sector for its foreign earnings, any
damage to this sector would present a problem of far reaching consequences.
If agriculture production drops significantly, Pakistan’s trade balance, already volatile and
highly unfavorable, would worsen.
In such a case, importing food items to cover the production deficit would also be difficult,
since the government would not be in a position to cover the import bill.
Stringent loans form the world bank and IMF would be the only recourse for stabilization.
MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN HARM’S WAY
Since the manufacturing sector of Pakistan is closely linked with the agriculture sector, it is also
not safe from the effects of climate change.
Value added products of Pakistan, an important contributor to the total export base, rely on locally
produced raw materials.
With increasingly erratic weather pattern hampering agricultural production, Pakistani industry
would have to import basic raw materials, stressing the current account deficit further.
The direct outcome would be a very weak local currency and subsequently expensive imports.
Industries might even relocate abroad to save costs of production.
This relocation, and the harm it can cause, was witnessed first hand in the last 10 years as
Pakistan’s textile industry relocated to Bangladesh and other countries due to power shortage.
SHRINKING ECONOMY, TAX BASE AND HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT
Preceding arguments make it clear that climate change has a negative relationship with a
country’s economy i.e. it’s GDP.
For a poor country like Pakistan, lower GDP means even lower tax collection, on account
of decreasing commerce and increasing bad governance.
Lower tax collection would logically be followed by either decrease in public expenditures
i.e. healthcare, education, law and order etc.
For instance, the floods of 2010 and 2022 caused damage amounting to billions of dollars,
as per a research by Lead Institute.
SOCIAL IMPACTS
Mass unemployment and its effect on youth
Women at risk
Health problems and malnutrition
Uncontrollable urbanization
MASS UNEMPLOYMENT AND ITS EFFECTS
ON YOUTH
Climate change will also create a plethora of social problems, some being direct
consequences of economic degradation while others being stand alone.
Since the agriculture will be affected quite significantly, a massive jump in unemployment
will undoubtedly be witnessed.
The fact that the labor employed in this sector is among the lowest earners and least
protected through state welfare.
Pakistan already faces a significant youth bulge with high unemployment.
A large population of young unemployed people, due to economic slowdown, is a potential
recipe for a disaster.
Such problems, on a grand level, threaten to undo the social fabric of the society.
WOMEN AT RISK
Women are one of the most vulnerable groups in any society.
They are also disproportionately affected by climate change all over the world.
The women of Pakistan are no exception to this rule.
A significant number of rural women in Pakistan are engaged in agricultural activities.
In cases of natural uncertainties, such as droughts and deforestation, these women find it more
difficult to relocate to greener pastures, owing to their families and children.
This leads to increasing poverty, which translates into malnutrition, health problems and
lower education among women.
The status of women development is already quite poor in Pakistan, and the current
deterioration of climate can cause significant harm to it.
HEALTH PROBLEMS AND MALNUTRITION
Aggravated climate change will severely deteriorate human health.
Warmer climate will result in the increase of many water and air and borne diseases.
Without concrete steps to alleviate the impacts of climate change, the poor among the Pakistani
population will be highly vulnerable to diseases.
Additionally, deteriorating food security because of lower agriculture production will increase
malnutrition, subsequently decreasing immunity to diseases.
Furthermore, health facilities may be too expensive for them to avail.
Already, 45 percent of rural, and 36 percent of urban children in Pakistan are suffering from
malnutrition.
If these statistics worsen, Pakistan might face a health emergency.
UNCONTROLLABLE URBANIZATION
Urbanization, already increasing at a fast pace, will see a boost as climate change wreaks
havoc in the rural areas, and people start to relocate to urban areas.
The urban centers of Pakistan already face the problem of urban squalor. Karachi, specifically,
is host to a large number of local and international refugees, and barely manages to
accommodate them.
Lahore, another urban center of Pakistan, has a very high pollution density, and the problems
that come with it.
As the problem of urbanization worsens, one can expect more slums, water scarcity, pollution,
higher crime rates and various other problems to exacerbate.
Over time, Pakistan’s urban centers may not be livable at all.
ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE
WHO: Reports on climate change and human health
UN SECURITY COUNCIL: Reports on links between climate change and security
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO): Reports on the impacts of
climate change on food security
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE (IFPRI): Reports on the
future of food production under climate change
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (UC): Reports on climate change and armed conflict
GEOGRAPHICAL IMPACTS
Changing topography and frequent disasters
Damage to the ecosystem
CHANGING TOPOGRAPHY AND FREQUENT
DISASTERS
The geographical impacts of climate change are also significant.
Pakistan has a 1,046-km coastline which millions of people live upon.
Over the years, it has been witnessed that the sea level has been continuously rising.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) corroborates this claim with its
research, predicting an increase in sea level by up to 59 cm by the year 2100.
This trend threatens to sink Pakistan’s coastal areas in the future.
Climate change has also caused natural disasters such as floods, droughts and tropical
cyclones in Pakistan.
The frequency of these disasters has been dangerously high.
Floods, for example, have become a yearly problem since 2022.
The intensity of these disasters would only increase with climate deterioration, changing
the geographical landscape of Pakistan.
DAMAGE TO THE ECOSYSTEM
Changing geographical features of Pakistan present a challenge to the natural ecosystem.
One such challenge is the loss of biodiversity.
Increasing ocean acidity, due to increasing atmospheric carbon di oxide, threatens to
destroy coral reefs on the Sindh-Baluchistan coast.
The desert ecosystem of Pakistan is already adversely affected by climate change, making
the lives of people and livestock very difficult.
The drying up of the Indus river bed has endangered the habitat of the Indus river dolphin,
and dwindles the water flow to the mangrove cover in Pakistan’s coastal areas.
If adequate measures are not taken, climate change can induce an unhealthy imbalance in
our ecosystem.
POLITICAL IMPACTS
Political upheaval in the face of deteriorating economy
Water depletion and Provincial discords
Political fallout of mass migrations
POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN THE FACE OF
DETERIORATING ECONOMY
Politics, in any country, does not operate in isolation.
As climate change increasingly influences the economy, society and geography, the
political situation in Pakistan is bound to change.
The economic ramifications of climate change will be at the center of political discord.
Political parties in Pakistan have historically not responded effectively to deteriorating
economic conditions.
WATER DEPLETION AND PROVINCIAL DISCORDS
The provinces of Pakistan do have a certain degree of mistrust among each other.
Although the 18th constitutional amendment has done much to placate the provinces, the
impacts of climate change present many difficulties. Water scarcity issue has been used
previously for political purposes, with ethnic overtones.
As climate change depletes Pakistan’s water supplies, which is evident from the fast pace
at which Pakistan’s glaciers are melting, political discords among the provinces might also
intensify, causing harm to Pakistan’s unity.
POLITICAL FALLOUT OF MASS
MIGRATIONS
Another problem that climate change will create is mass migration.
As many areas become inhabitable due to water scarcity, disasters or other
problems, a large number of people are expected to move to different parts of the
country.
This presents a serious political challenge for Pakistan.
This problem can spread to other parts of Pakistan, subsequently increasing
political discords and threatening its federal structure of government.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Although climate change presents substantial challenges to Pakistan, in the present and in
the future, all is not lost yet. In this age of science and technology, humans are well
equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to take precautions against climate
change.
Resource conservation
Agriculture research
Building community resilience
Engaging international community
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Pakistan needs to conserve its resources. The issue of water scarcity needs to be effectively
conveyed to the public, inducing judicious use of water in households.
The government can increase water tax to control excessive its excessive use, and curtail
water theft and diversion by influential landowners.
Dams must also be built on war footing to store fresh water.
Such steps can help Pakistan in slowing down the impacts of climate change, buying
valuable time to implement other long-term policies.
AGRICULTURE RESEARCH
As already discussed, the agriculture sector is the biggest casualty of climate change,
hence research in this area is the need of the hour.
The government has the technology to predict weather conditions.
Their knowledge must be communicated to the farming community to act accordingly in
cases of abrupt changes in weather, averting crop failures.
Research must also be conducted on newer variety of seeds, which should be resistant to
the changing environment and have higher productivity.
This way, the problem of food security may also be tackled.
BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Success of government measures to mitigate climate change impacts depends upon
community resilience.
This means that the local communities in Pakistan make themselves aware of the
problems being faced by them, and how they may reduce their exposure to these dangers
as a collective group.
Local governments and civil societies can play a constructive role in this regard. They can
help in effectively disseminating knowledge for the benefit of those who are at risk.
A strong response from the communities is paramount to successfully withstand climate
change.
ENGAGING INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Since climate change does not differentiate between borders, Pakistan too must look
beyond its borders for help.
The international community is well aware of climate change and its effects on Pakistan.
The developed world has the skills and technological experience to cope with climate
change.
Pakistan must engage the international community at various fora for financial and
technical assistance.
Being a signatory to the Paris climate agreement, Pakistan deserves the help of the
international community to fight climate change.
Conclusion
Pakistan faces many problems such as poverty, overpopulation, high level of
unemployment, malnutrition etc.
Climate change threatens to exacerbate these problems to unprecedented levels.
The social, economic, geographical and political impacts of climate change threaten the
existence of Pakistan in the future.
In order to survive climate change, necessary steps must be undertaken.
To this end, the government and the people of Pakistan needs to enhance cooperation in
various fields, and the international community needs to be engaged.
If these efforts are made wholeheartedly, Pakistan can successfully weather the storm, and
leave a brighter future for its coming generations.
