The climate change in Pakistan is already threatening food security and causing epidemics like malaria and dengue, writes Laraib Nisar.
2021 proved to be the year when the world started facing the implications of global warming more than ever before. Millions suffered globally at the hands of different natural disasters whose effects were worsened due to climate change and global warming. Be it the surprising Canadian heat dome, Europe’s deadly floods, or the California’s raging wildfires, the implications of global warming have started manifesting in ways that are unacceptable to the human race. Like the rest of the world, the consequences of climate change in Pakistan are affecting the individual, societal, and national affairs of the country. To stem the tide of climate change in Pakistan, it’s important to find out what exactly is at stake.
Climate Change in Pakistan: The Fallout of Rise in Temperature and Sea Level
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Earth’s temperature has risen by almost 1°C from the pre-industrial level, and it is expected to reach up to 1.5°C during 2030-2050. This shift is driving extreme weathers as it is already prolonging summer and shrinking winters in the country. The climate change in Pakistan is causing weather variations, which carry ramifications for the agriculture sector, the livestock, and the wildlife of the country.
Pakistan has also experienced a rise in sea level at the rate of about 1.1 mm per year, which is much higher than the global mean. This has put the low-lying coastal areas of Southern Sindh and Balochistan at risk of devastating environmental implications and an eventual submerging in the sea which will lead to the destruction of the coastal industry including power plants, refineries, ports, and tourism industry.
Climate Change in Pakistan And The Worsening Precipitation Patterns
Another evident consequence of the changing climate is the variability in annual precipitation, which has largely increased across the country in the last 50 years. This variability has led to an increase in the reoccurrence frequency of floods, as Pakistan faces largescale floods approximately every 3-5 years. The swift changes in precipitation trends affect the daily life of citizens due to poor sewerage system in most parts of the country and also has led to destruction of several crops.
Threat To Food Insecurity
The spatial shift in the precipitation pattern has affected the rainfed areas by reduced water availability during the cropping season. According to IPCC predictions, agricultural productivity in Asia is declining substantially with the increase in the occurrence of droughts and floods. Moreover, since there is a correlation of temperature and crop yields such that there is a 6% decrease in the yield of wheat crop with every 1°C rise in temperature. Pakistan is moving towards a food shortage due to the constantly increasing temperature and significant variations in the precipitation trends.
Increase in Epidemics Like Malaria & Dengue
The rising temperature has a direct relationship with the spread of various vector-based diseases like malaria and dengue. Moist and warm areas act as the breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the weather conditions coupled with poor hygienic conditions lead to an increase in the number of cases of diseases like malaria and dengue from September to October across the country.
Climate change in Pakistan is an undeniable reality now which affects the whole ecosystem threatening the water, food, and energy security. If not managed properly, climate change can have huge impacts on the country’s economy and the well-being of the population Though the government has taken excellent steps to protect the environment and reduce the causes of global warming and climate change, it is high time that the government makes efforts to tackle the issues created as a consequence of climate change. It must be kept in mind that a holistic approach is the only key for Pakistan to save itself from the approaching calamity.
The author Laraib Nisar is a Defense and Strategic Studies’ graduate, working as a Program Coordinator at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.
