Summer season is peaking, and so are the heatwaves. Once again Karachi is experiencing sweltering temperatures, hitting 44 degrees Celsius. The ongoing heatwave in Karachi has reportedly killed 65 people over the past few days, and this toll could climb if the scorching heat persists.
While many are comparing the current heat stroke deaths to the heatwave of 2015, it is alarming that the extreme weather conditions are becoming a norm in Pakistan. High temperatures are not only prevalent in Karachi, but other areas of the country are also witnessing extreme heatwaves since the beginning of this month.
It is ironic that even though the frequency of such severe weather vulnerabilities is anticipated to escalate by both international and local experts and are expected to pose much bigger socio-economic and health threats, little is being done to address the changing climatic conditions. Changing weather patterns due to global warming have not only affected the masses in terms of inconvenience and health related issues; water food and energy security are the three key areas to be affected by it as highlighted in the latest Economic Survey of Pakistan.
According to the data presented in the Economic Survey 2017-18, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions levels for Pakistan are expected to increase many times in the coming decades as shown in the table. And Moody’s recent assessment report on climate change also highlights that Pakistan’s resilience to it is limited. It says, “rising temperatures and erratic rainfall can affect productivity in agriculture and increase the vulnerability of energy production, as 33 percent of Pakistan’s energy supply are hydropower-driven.”
Regardless of all such alarm bells, the country’s spending on climate is banal; though the Federal Budget 2018-19 talks of the priority to be given to deal with climate change by allocating Rs803 million for the Ministry of Climate Change, it seems peanuts in front of other expenditures. Also, a look back tells a wavering story; in 2017-18, Rs341 billion for various climate change initiatives under various ministries was budgeted, while the actual spending remained dull at Rs182 billion.
On the policy side, climate change has seen many changes. Recently Climate Change Act 2017 has been announced, while the policy making is happening both at the federal and the provincial level.
There is a need to gather pace as well as structure to how we handle this rising threat. Pakistan is amongst the most vulnerable countries to be affected by climate change. And it’s already happening; those at the helm need to take heed.
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