Pakistan’s 5000 glaciers retrea- ting fastest in world
The country is vulnerable to
a host of natural hazards, particularly of hydro
meteorological nature, the frequency and intensity of which
has increased due to climate change. The recurring extreme
events that Pakistan has faced in the recent years carried
significant climate change footprints. These included flash
floods, cyclones, heat waves, droughts, glacial lake
outburst floods and intrusion of saline seawater into the
Indus River Delta Region. Pakistan suffered economic losses
of more than US$15 billion during floods of 2010 to 2012.
Pakistan is categorised amongst
the highly vulnerable countries to the adverse impacts of
climate change due to its diverse topographic and
demographic settings. Pakistan’s 5000 glaciers are on
retreat. They are retreating faster than any other part of
the world, according to new Pakistan Economic Survey
2014-15.
The country is vulnerable to a host of natural hazards,
particularly of hydro meteorological nature, the frequency
and intensity of which has increased due to climate change.
The recurring extreme events that Pakistan has faced in the
recent years carried significant climate change footprints.
These included flash floods,
cyclones, heat waves, droughts, glacial lake outburst floods
and intrusion of saline seawater into the Indus River Delta
Region. Pakistan suffered economic losses of more than US$15
billion during floods of 2010 to 2012.
The unprecedented floods of 2010 were described by the UN
secretary general as a slow moving tsunami. More than 20
million people were affected and roughly 300,000 were
displaced.
Climate change is severely
impacting the development aspirations of almost all
developing countries. Although the developing countries do
not have the historical responsibility for the present day
challenges yet they are taking the brunt of its negative
impacts. It even threatens the very survival of the small
island developing states.
The sustainable development prospects of Pakistan are
undermined by the climate change in multiple ways which has
already entrenched with numerous economic, security and
social challenges. While the ministry of climate change is
working to avert these challenges for Pakistan, climate
change is serving not only as a threat but also a threat
multiplier.
Above all, it is seriously
undermining the gains achieved in this regard. It is
inflicting huge losses to human life and property. It is
also causing additional stress on the sustainability and
access to natural resources both for the present and more
importantly for the future generations.
The actions to address
climate change should ensure the sustainable development and
sustained economic growth of the developing countries and
the universal elimination of poverty, hunger and disease. In
Pakistan alone, additional US $ 6 – 14 billion are required
annually to adapt to the climate change adverse impacts.
Pakistan’s greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions are low compared to international standards. In 20
08, Pakistan’s total GHG emissions were 310 million tons of
CO2 equivalents. These comprised: CO2 54% Methane (Ch4) 36%;
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 9%; Carbon Monoxide (CO) 0.7%; and Non –
Methane Volatile Organic Compounds 0.3%.
The energy sector is the
single largest source of GHG emission in Pakistan; it
accounts for nearly 51% of these emissions and is followed
by processes (6%), land use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)
(3%) emissions and waste (1%).
As such, the most important
targets for mitigation efforts focused on reduction of GHG
emissions are the energy and agriculture sectors. In the
energy sector, integration climate change and energy policy
objectives are particularly important. The buildings and
transport infrastructure put in place today should meet the
design needs of the future.
Notwithstanding the fact that
Pakistan’s contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions is very small, its role as a responsible member of
the global community is very important in combating climate
change – in mitigation efforts in sectors such as energy,
forestry, transport, industries, urban planning, agriculture
and livestock.
Furthermore, appropriate
actions relating to disaster preparedness, capacity
building, institutional strengthening; and awareness rising
in relevant sectors is also a part of this framework for
implementation of National Climate Change Policy which has
been developed not as an end in itself but rather a catalyst
for mainstreaming climate change concerns into decision
making that will create enabling condition for integrated
climate compatible development processes.
It is therefore not a
stand-alone document but rather an integral and synergistic
accomplishment to future planning of the country. Despite
being a low GHG emitter, Pakistan is bearing the brunt of
climate change related disasters at a high cost to its
economy. It therefore requires concerted efforts to adapt to
the adverse impacts of climate change.
Number of measures are in
focus to address both mitigation and enhancing various
ongoing efforts and initiating new activities such as
adaptation strategies, mitigation strategies, clean
development mechanism and nationally appropriate mitigation
actions.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency in coordination
with international union for conservation of nature, ICUN
and other partners had recently conducted the National
Impact Assessment Programme (NIAP).
The programme is aimed at
contributing to sustainable development in Pakistan through
strengthening the environmental impact assessment process
introducing Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in
national development planning.
Based on the experience of
NIAP, it is expected that interventions at the policy level
through introduction of SEA, capacity building, development
of tools, procedures and mechanisms and improved
understanding of impact assessment processes, principles of
sustainable development could be introduced into country
policies and programmes.
August, 2015
By:
PPI
Source: Pakistan
Today
