Countering climate change

The frequency and intensity with which rains hit almost all parts of the country this June - normally a dry month - is a manifestation of the changing weather patterns environmental scientists have been warning of for quite some time. The signs of climate change, in fact, have already been there. As a report appearing in this paper the other day, points out quoting a senior official of the Meteorological Department, severe droughts and catastrophic floods in different parts of the country are becoming a norm for the last 10-15 years. The arrival of winter season is getting delayed by at least a month, and is shorter in duration. This should be deeply worrying, all the more so considering that Pakistan already ranks seventh among ten countries most vulnerable to effects of global warming. It is also one of the most water-stressed countries. Expediting the process of environmental change, aside from industrial activity in neighbouring India and China, is uncontrolled domestic vehicular pollution, industrial emissions and scant forest cover.
Increasing temperatures, erratic and short monsoon rainfall and droughts have already begun to adversely impact crop yields. According to Director General Agriculture, Punjab, changing weather conditions are the main cause of virtual static agricultural production. Due to diminishing rainfall, the groundwater levels too are declining. With the passage of time, shortages of both drinking and irrigation water are to get more and more acute, leading to devastating consequences for public health and the country's agri-based economy. Poverty will increase, food security weaken, and biodiversity face disruption. These are all well-recognized facts. Yet there is no coherent policy either at the Centre or in the provinces -except for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where a billion trees plantation campaign is underway and illegal logging is strictly banned - to confront the challenges ahead before it is too late.
Belatedly, the federal government upgraded climate change department to ministry level, that too half-heartedly. The Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid holds the additional portfolio of Climate Change, and is not known to have done anything of note by way of countering the threat. There is Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, but is largely underfunded and under-resourced to do its job. The governmental attitude, like in so many other areas, seems to be 'we will deal with the problem when it stare us in the face'. In this case, however, once the damage is done it would irreversible. It is already late, yet there is a lot that can still be taken care of to avert the dire consequences of inaction awaiting this country in not distant a future. The issue is too important to be left to the government or the bureaucrats. The media and civil society also need to play their role in bringing environmental challenges to the front and centre of national agenda for the sake of this country's progress and well-being of its future generations.