Daily Times

Global warming is an emerging issue in Pakistan in terms of impact. Pakistan is ranked 137 in terms of emission of global greenhouse gases (GHG), and contributes about 0.47 percent of GHG. This contribution is minimal when compared with neighbouring countries such as India and China, which are deemed to be the industrial giants that contribute about 29% in total emissions.  The toxic emissions expelled into the atmosphere by these states disrupt the weather pattern of the surrounding regions; thereby making Pakistan vulnerable to frequent climate changes.

The effects of such spillage complemented with environmental hazards of deforestation, increasing dependency on fossil fuels and an accelerating rate of carbon emissions has adversely influenced our climate to such an extent that an environmental disaster is not too far if proactive precautionary measures are not taken.

Climatic change is not only characterised as being a change on the surface but changes in the water level too. The 2010 floods stand as a prime example whereby the land was virtually damaged displacing millions of people. The vast extent of the damage from these floods is also evident from the Indus River being stretched as far as 30 kilometers from different points. Such devastating calamities create climate volatility in Pakistan. Moreover, erratic monsoon rains lead to frequent floods and droughts. According to Germanwatch, Pakistan has been ranked 8 in 2015 in Global Climate Risk Index of countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In addition, glaciers, which are the primary source of water in the rivers, began melting much earlier due to rising temperatures. At present, there are about 7,253 glaciers in the country and the rising temperature is a source of grave concern. It eventually increases the volume of water, resulting in floods. This unusual change in the climate is likely to make glaciers vanish by 2035 according to the UN’s predictions. The rivers, initially, would be characterised with overabundance of water due to melting of ice at a fast pace and then the water would gradually diminish resulting in famine in the long-run.

Pakistan is endowed with about 151,000 acres of forest land, as per the claims made by the timber and real estate sectors. Unfortunately, humanity has brought calamities upon itself through deforestation, which thwarts the protection against floodwater and toxic carbon emissions. Hence, this is another underlying cause of global warming.

Rising temperatures resulting from global warming are hampering the agricultural productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. The deposits of carbon in Indus River System is threatening the inflow of water. Furthermore, the inclusion of saline water in Indus delta is adversely influencing the coastal agriculture, mangroves plantation and fish breeding grounds.

The above-mentioned scenario of global warming can be asserted as volatile weather conditions to an all-embracing problem, which can breed a vicious crisis of social inequalities such as gaps in resource allocation and distribution. It is inevitable for the government to immediately address the issue of global warming with a stringent framework of effective solutions. The government should emphasise on the exploration of the renewable energy resources to control weather-related calamities. Afforestation initiatives should be implemented on a large scale to control the impact of floods and toxic emissions. In addition, organisations working to safeguard the environment should play a proactive role in disseminating awareness about the causes and effects of global warming. They should gather support from the rural and urban youth to formulate strategies to counter the negative effects of global warming on a large scale to ensure a healthy environment.

The writer is a Lahore-based blogger and can be reached at aiyza.javaid@gmail.com