Is Pakistan able to climate change ?

By: Masood Hussain Geffery

Pakistan is vulnerable to climate change due to its geography and economic conditions. Here’s a snapshot of Pakistan’s understanding and response to climate change:

Understanding Climate Change

1. Awareness: Pakistan has made progress in raising awareness about climate change, with various government departments, NGOs, and media outlets actively promoting climate education.
2. Research and development: Pakistani research institutions and universities are conducting studies on climate change impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation.
3. Climate policy framework: Pakistan has established a climate policy framework, including the National Climate Change Policy (2012) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Climate Change Impacts in Pakistan

1. Extreme weather events: Pakistan is prone to extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, droughts, and cyclones.
2. Water scarcity: Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity issues in Pakistan, affecting agriculture, industry, and human consumption.
3. Agricultural impacts: Climate change is altering temperature and precipitation patterns, impacting crop yields, and threatening food security.
4. Health impacts: Climate change is increasing the spread of water-borne diseases, heat stress, and other health issues in Pakistan.

Response and Adaptation Efforts

1. Climate-resilient infrastructure: Pakistan is investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, such as flood protection walls and climate-resilient water management systems.
2. Renewable energy: Pakistan aims to increase its share of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
3. Climate-smart agriculture: Pakistan is promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as drip irrigation and conservation agriculture.
4. Disaster risk reduction: Pakistan is strengthening its disaster risk reduction and management capabilities, including early warning systems and emergency response planning.

While Pakistan has made progress in understanding and responding to climate change, more needs to be done to address the scale and complexity of the challenge.