Policy initiatives could be an
effective approach towards adapting and mitigating worst scenarios of climate
change
Climate
change is a vivid phenomenon which seems to be accelerating at an unprecedented
pace. Over the decades, climate change has happened with variations occurring
in the mean surface temperature. Apparently, the past ten years are stated to
be the warmest in the records of global surface temperature.
Chronological
records further show that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events
has exceeded the limits of past records over a span of 50 years. Enormous
decline has been observed in the frequency of cold days, cold nights and frost
as compared to an increased ratio of hot days, hot nights and heat-waves.
Looking
into the matter, impact of climate change and global warming are more
overriding in regions located near the equator in terms of topography, and in
those parts of the world which are underdeveloped and own little potential to
cope with aggravating conditions of warming, extreme weathers, floods,
droughts, and earthquakes; and one of them is Pakistan.
According
to the Ministry of Environment, Pakistan
ranks amongst the most vulnerable regions, which are hit by climate warming
trends. However, factually, Pakistan
is the lowest emitter of Green House Gasses, which is only 0.38 percent of the
world. Yet, the impact of bad climatic conditions in Pakistan would be evident in the
form of food shortage, water crisis and loss of employment due to impoverished
agricultural fields in near future. A further catastrophic decline of net
irrigation water up to 29pc is expected due to another 6pc decrease of
rainwater.
Various
governmental, semi-governmental and non-governmental organisations in Pakistan play a
proactive role towards emphasizing the need of climate change adaptation and
mitigation.
In the
present scenario, Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment
(SCOPE) and Global Environmental Facility (GEF) have played their part in
stressing upon the realignment of climate change adaptation initiatives with
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) towards fulfilling the prerequisites for
sustainable development.
Pakistan being an underdeveloped country
faces a situation of non-availability of sufficient resources for climate
change mitigation. Climate change adaptation is the recommended measure to
handle the deteriorating circumstances which would bring the nation at the
verge of poverty and distress.
There
seems to be an encouraging trend by donors, implementers and proponents of
Climate Change Adaptation stratagem in Pakistan.
A bank has
allocated a handsome funding amount of 780 million USD for reduction of
reliance on fossils fuels, efficient use of energy, and cutting short the
emissions of green house gasses by 30 percent. It is projected that 30pc
reduction in the amount of green house gasses will increase the gains in
savings of 4 billion USD by 2019.
Global
environmental standards have set benchmarks for promoting medium term
adaptation projects, through investments of 250 million USD per year in energy
efficiency, renewable energy promotion, and sustainable transportation. NGOs
have also set routes for capacity building and programme planning towards
climate change adaptation.
The shift
of climate change and environmental protection activities from federal to
provincial and local governments is liable to increase their scope of impact
and activism up to the threshold level in near future.
The
ministry of environment is already engaged in the process of making a climate
change policy which highlights the significance of National Adaptation and
provides a Mitigation Action Plan. This would also enhance the level of
responsibilities over the shoulders of local people to protect and conserve
fragile environment and adapt to the climate change happenings in a more viable
and sustainable manner.
The IUCN
emphasises on the need to understand the impacts of climate change on
biophysical environments of Pakistan
in order to device effective adaptation strategies. The International Centre
for Integrated Mountain development and Asian
Development Bank took initiatives towards strengthening regional cooperation
and developing member responses to climate change adaptation.
Moving on
with a practical approach, a few recommendations could be provided on practical
grounds on an effective implementation of climate change adaptation measures.
There is a
need for better administration of available water resources through management
of watersheds and reservoirs and regulating the reservoirs. Adaptation in three
major sectors, including water, forestry, and agriculture would be a pertinent
step towards sustainable climate change management in the country.
Minimization
of natural resource degradation and developing efficient systems, methods and
techniques for attaining high irrigation efficacy is a necessary measure.
A
comprehensive and multi-sectoral institutional mechanism is a vital need. There
should be a check and balance maintained at the level of local government in
terms of barriers and opportunities for sustainable adaptation.
A better
management of institutions and local government would reduce the vulnerability
of systematic errors at national and provincial levels. A thorough analysis of current
knowledge and an effective gap-and-need analysis would prove to be useful.
Policy initiatives could be an effective approach towards adapting and
mitigating worst scenarios of climate change being faced by the underdeveloped
world.
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