Impact of Climate Change on Pakistan
Climate change has become a pervasive and looming issue for the world. There is not a single country that is not affected by this problem. Every year, the world witnessed a rise in temperature due to deforestation, the burning of fossil fuels, chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs), and some other factors. As a result of this alarming issue, there is not only a temperature rise but also a speed in melting of glaciers, acid rains, cyclones, contamination of water and air, and barren lands. The world has taken many measures to tackle colossal and the most defining problem of this century. Yet, it is uncontrollable due to socio-economic and political reasons. Like other countries, climate change has great repercussions on Pakistan. Since she is a developing country, she has not got away with this Damocles’ sword.
Climate change has left Pakistan in the lurch over the years. Overall, the increase in average annual temperature of Pakistan is 0.57 Celsius; the record-breaking heatwaves in Karachi have been besieging it with greater intensity and frequency; In April 2018, Nawabshah’s temperature rose up to 50.40 Celsius, the highest temperature in the history of Pakistan; the frequency of hydro-disasters and floods, since 2010, is at zenith; communities live nearby rivers or riverine have to relocate themselves every year; drought has caused many people to migrate from Tharparkar and Balochistan; seawater has intruded or eroded away a lot of coastline in Thatta; glaciers are melting at faster pace, thereby causing the decline in water in rivers; unpredictable monsoon and its 18 to 32% rise in rainfall, traditionally predictable, have led to food insecurity in Pakistan because many crops are dependent upon monsoon; the consumption of energy supply has surged a lot due to a rise in temperature which has compelled households and businesses to demand more energy for cooling, but the dilemma is most of energy comes from fossil fuels which contribute to climate change; earthquakes have increased on mountainous and hilly areas; the amount of precipitation has increased by 25%; there is expansion of aridity on northern side; the solar radiation has increased approximately 0.5 to 0.7% in the southern side; Balochistan has seen a decrease in humidity by 5%; the central areas of Pakistan has witnessed the decrease in clouds by 3 to 5%; and the trends of summer and winter rainfall have come down by 10 to 15% in coastal areas and arid plains. Thus, all in all, Pakistan has been suffering the lifelong pains of climate change.
Indeed, the impact of climate change on Pakistan has been severe. And the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have predicted that in the future, Pakistan will be suffering the worst climate change effects. Such devastating implications have cost a lot of lives and economic benefits. The single flood that began in 2010 had devoured 6% of the GDP of the country. These disasters will keep on happening until strong measures are taken to tackle them. Pakistan intends to curb the impact of climate change within this century.
