Climate change normally refers to changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other aspects of the earth’s system. Unfortunately, the sole cause of disturbing the balance of mother nature is human activities. These changes are largely driven by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrialization, and urbanization.
Pakistan is one of the top countries facing climate change at its extreme. However, our total contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is only 1%. Deforestation and urbanization seem to be the main causes of climate change in our country. Because of such activities, we have faced a significant rise in temperature over the last two decades (2000-2020) with the temperature rising faster than the global average.
Heat waves are becoming more and more common in big cities like Karachi and Lahore causing heat waves-related health problems and deaths. On 26 June 2024, BBC reported more than 500 deaths from heatstroke. As heat waves in southern Punjab and Sindh, the body counts also increase. These extreme weather conditions are becoming more and more frequent and intense due to climate change in the country. The frequency of these events will increase unfortunately in future too.
Climate change caused by human activities has in return adverse effects on human health. Smog which is defined as a combination of smoke, fog and other pollutants have been a main cause of health issues in Pakistan. CNN World published a report stating, ‘Toxic smog in Pakistan is so bad you can see it from space’. Out of all the South Asian cities, Lahore has become the hub of smog as urbanization has increased multiple times in last couple of years making Lahore one of the most polluted cities in the world. Hospitals and clinics have been flooded with patients suffering from respiratory disorders. More than 30,000 patients have been treated according to a published report. This climate crisis will only make the pollution worse and death toll will increase if preventive measures are not taken timely.
The mental health of citizens of Pakistan is also affected side by side physical health. Climate change causes extreme flooding that has affected 33 million residents and about $15 billion damages. As economical and physical impacts of climate change are clear, our county is also facing mental health issues. Heat wave, economical loss from floods side by side smog have triggered climate anxiety or ‘eco-anxiety’ in locals. Pakistani youth seem to be under the spell of climate change the most. The students are missing educational prospects as schools are forced to close due to floods and smog. There exists a profound concern of lagging behind academically. This has left students of Pakistan under great distress.
This climate change has affected our river system to great extent. Due to the shortage of water in river Kabul, wetland areas have also been decreasing day by day. Due to the decrease in wetland areas, the habitants of fish and migratory birds have been greatly disturbed. Citizens, especially farmers, are completely unaware of the importance of wetlands. If these trends continue, our county will suffer irreversible damage to wetland species near future causing disturbance to the ecosystem.
Many organizations in Pakistan are working for clean green Pakistan. Despite having some promising efforts on plating trees, we as a nation are still lacking the cohesive efforts to address the root cause of climate change. Deforestation, poor urbanization plans, excessive use of vehicles and unchecked pollution are contributing factors, and these are further worsening the situation.
Tackling climate change at a national level requires proactive measures that encompass mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development strategies. A robust system to implement and monitor these measures is crucial. Establishing a dedicated national climate change authority, conducting regular assessments, and ensuring transparency in policy execution can significantly enhance the effectiveness of these strategies. By adopting these preventive measures, we as nations can not only mitigate the effects of climate change but also foster sustainable development for future generations.