By Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
The global climate crisis poses a number of threats to the well-being and prosperity of the people of Pakistan. Pakistan is a low-middle income country that remains predominantly agrarian, although it is progressively industrializing its economy and over one-third of the population now resides in towns and cities. The country already witnesses several climate- and weather-related natural hazards due to its geographical diversity and a varied tropical, continental climate hot summers and cold winters. 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.
It is projected that there will be significant increases in temperature across the country high confidence and especially in the snow-covered mountainous north, which will lead to faster glacial melt resulting in changes to the Indus River flows downstream. Heatwaves are likely to become more frequent and intense all over Pakistan, and the number of ‘hot’ days and nights are expected to increase significantly high confidence. Changes in rainfall trends are not clear, though there may be some shifting of seasons peak summer rain shifting to August and peak winter rains shifting to March Extremely wet days are likely to increase across all of the country except in Sindh Province, which will experience more dry days leading to the increased frequency of drought. Climate change has the potential to trigger wide-ranging and strong negative feedback loops between livelihoods and health.Climate change has significant impacts on both human health and livelihoods. Some of these impacts include: Increased incidence of infectious diseases: Climate change can lead to the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and Lyme disease. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can create conditions that are more favorable for disease-carrying insects and parasites. Air pollution: Climate change can worsen air quality, which can have serious impacts on respiratory health. Increased wildfires and dust storms, as well as the increased use of fossil fuels to power air conditioning and transportation, can all contribute to poor air quality. Heat-related illness and death: Higher temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses. This is especially true for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses. Food and water insecurity: Climate change can disrupt food production and water supplies, leading to shortages and higher prices. This can have serious impacts on the livelihoods of farmers and other agricultural workers, as well as on the health of people who rely on these resources for sustenance. Displacement and conflict: Climate change can lead to mass migrations of people who are displaced by rising sea levels, droughts, or other climate-related disasters. This can lead to conflict over resources and exacerbate existing social and political tensions. Overall, the impacts of climate change on health and livelihoods are wide-ranging and complex. Addressing these impacts will require coordinated action at the local, national, and global levels to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote sustainable development
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