KARACHI:
Every year on June 5 the world marks World Environment Day. Governments make statements, organisations launch campaigns and social media is filled with calls to protect the planet. Then the day is over and life goes on.
The problem is that climate change does not go away.
Even though Pakistan faces one climate disaster after another, people still treat each one as a separate incident and not as a sign of a bigger problem. There is a flood, a heatwave or a drought and everyone talks about climate change for a while, only to forget until the next disaster strikes.
In parts of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, temperatures are much higher than usual but even numbers do not show how bad the heat really is. For a worker who’s outside all day, a farmer who works in the fields or a vendor who sells things on the street, extreme heat can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
Karachi is an example of what the future could be like if things do not change. The city has had heatwaves which are made worse by humidity, power outages and water shortages. Every summer, hospitals see a surge in heat-related illnesses and these problems are no longer temporary.
Pakistan’s future is closely tied to the Indus River system. Changing rainfall patterns, shrinking glaciers, population growth and inefficient water use are putting a lot of pressure on available water. Experts have warned that water scarcity could become a serious problem in South Asia. What makes things worse is that Pakistan does not contribute much to greenhouse gas emissions, yet it is still one of the countries most affected by climate-related disasters. This is a reminder that climate change isn’t fair; those who did not cause the problem often suffer the most, urgently highlighting the need for us to establish adequate safeguards against this worsening crisis.
Although, Pakistan’s environmental problems are also caused by choices. People cut down trees, cities expand without planning, environmental laws are not enforced and waste is not managed well.
The country does not need another year of warnings. It needs to act on the warnings it has already received. Better urban planning, stronger institutions, improved water management and climate-smart agriculture are necessary. The question now is not whether climate change is real but whether we are willing to do something about it.
Syed Tahir Rashdi
Shahdadpur
