Climate change is upon us already
While scientists the world over have been warning of the
impending impact of climate change, we in Pakistan are experiencing its effects
already. The current heat wave affecting many areas of Sindh and Balochistan is
taking its toll. Temperatures the mid-40 degrees Centigrade are being reported
from Karachi, Chhor, Mithi, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Rohri, Moenjodaro, Sakrand,
Hyderabad, Turbat, etc. Over 60 people have died, although the authorities seem
to be in denial that the extraordinary heat has something to do with this loss
of life. What is adding to the woes of ordinary people is the extent and
duration of load shedding. The government had announced there would be no load
shedding in Ramzan during sehr and iftar and had even stopped electricity
to industries during these times to ensure this. However, reports speak of even
those fasting not being spared during the day or at night amidst sweltering
heat. In 2015, lower Sindh was hit by a record-breaking heat wave that killed
over 2,000 people, mostly in Karachi. With much fanfare plans were announced to
implement measures to avoid such a disaster in future. But this year’s spike in
temperatures and the attendant problems of load shedding and water shortages
shows that the ‘plan’ was mere lip service and nothing concrete has been done
to manage such disasters. All the governments have managed is so-called heat
wave centres whose efficacy is still to be determined. Meanwhile meteorological
forecasts speak of a continuation of high temperatures for some days, climbing
4-5 degrees Centigrade by the end of May (implying temperatures in the 50s). The
urban areas especially, where trees and greenery have been butchered in the
name of development turning them into concrete jungles, are being described as
heat islands. Tragically, whenever a tree is cut down, instead of planting two
to replace it, cities have been denuded of the greenery that helps mitigate the
effects of urban pollution, provide shade and help cool the environment. Instead,
our ‘developers’ have fallen for some years under the spell of foreign trees
and shrubs, some of which are water guzzlers (an increasingly scarce resource)
or unsuited to our climate. Meteorological experts are warning that impending
heat waves are likely to occur more frequently, even annually, and for longer
durations. Short-term disaster management is of course necessary (although so
far conspicuous by its absence) but long term ecological, water conservation
and climate change impact policies have become inescapable.
Unfortunately, since the country is poised on the cusp of
elections, governments have other things on their minds than climate change and
its devastating impacts that are growing. For the cities, urban design and
construction materials are crucial if climate-sensitive criteria are used. Felling
trees and replacing green areas with high-rise concrete buildings can only
worsen the urban heat island effect. Efficient public transport too is
necessary to lessen pollution and the carbon footprint. Public parks and green
belts have to be developed on a war footing. As far as load shedding is
concerned, three major power breakdowns this month underline the failure while
adding substantial new generation capacity to tackle the parlous state of the electricity
distribution network. The much-touted surplus power as a result of the government’s
crash drive to add generation is no help if the distribution grid keeps on
tripping in major ways. Water scarcity, when combined with high temperatures,
may become a serious crisis in future. Water scarcity has to be met through
building reservoirs big and small wherever possible, introducing water
conservation through canals and water channels’ incremental lining, the
introduction of less wasteful methods such as drip irrigation, etc. Forest
cover has to be enhanced and lumbering regulated. Unless all these and other
measures are taken on an urgent basis, climate change experts are predicting
that life will become impossible in the worst hit areas, triggering mass
migrations with their attendant problems. Time to wake up to Pakistan’s
vulnerability to the climate and ecological disaster looming.
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