Climate change refers to long-term shifts in
temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the
1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily
due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), which produces
heat-trapping gases.
Contemporary
climate change includes both the global warming caused by humans
and its impacts on Earth's weather patterns. There have been previous periods
of climate change, but the current changes are more rapid than any known events
in Earth's history.
Pakistan's
climate change concerns include increased variability of monsoons,
the likely impact of receding Himalayan glaciers on the Indus River system, the
decreased capacity of water reservoirs, reduced hydropower during drought years,
and extreme events including floods and droughts.
Pakistan
experiences recurring heatwaves and droughts, riverine and flash
floods, landslides, and sea storms or cyclones. Climate change is expected
to increase the frequency and intensity of these events as well as exacerbate
people's vulnerabilities.
There are two
ways we can deal with climate change; mitigation and adaptation.
Mitigation
is the process of limiting the negative impacts of climate change and its
effects. The most common form of mitigation is reducing carbon dioxide
emissions to limit the warming of the Earth. This can be carried out by, for
example transitioning from fossil fuels to greener energy, increasing the uses
of electric vehicle usage, and reducing the amount we fly. The mitigation
measures are those actions that are taken to reduce the emission of greenhouse
gases.
The method of mitigation can come in the form
of financial changes. This can be done most effectively by removing the fossil
fuel subsidies, which can reduce the cost of fossil fuel energy production,
provide the companies with resources at a reduced price and lower the cost of
fossil fuel consumption, all of which encourage the continued use of fossil
fuel.
In Pakistan, the emission of Green House Gases
is low as compared to the international standard. According to the 2008 report,
in Pakistan total greenhouse gases (GHG)
emissions were 310 million tons of CO2 equivalent. The energy
sector is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emission. It accounts
for nearly 51% of s emission followed by the agricultural sector,
industrial processes, land use, land-use change, forestry emission, and waste.
As such, the most important targets for mitigation efforts focused on the
reduction of greenhouse gases emissions from the energy and agriculture sectors.
Adaptation
involves reducing the negative effects of climate change and adjusting to them,
as well as taking advantage of any positive opportunities that arise. These
methods fill in the gaps where mitigation fails, particularly if emissions
targets are not met and the planets continue to warm. The adaptation measures
are based on reducing the vulnerability of climate change effects.
Pakistan makes a small contribution to total
global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is among the countries that are most
vulnerable to climate change, and it shas the very low technical and financial
capacity to adapt to its adverse impacts
Some adaptation measures can take to avoid the
increase of pollutant emissions:
- Planning and developing solutions to reduce the impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters.
- Crop diversification: making crops more able to adapt to climate change and reducing the risk of food shortages.
- Restoring the damaged ecosystems and replanting the forests.
- Identify ‘no build areas’ where the coastal flooding is most likely (resulting from sea-level rise).
About the Author: Aqsa Abid has completed her BS
in Environmental Sciences from GC Women University Sialkot.
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