Chitral communities at risk from climate change

For the first time in history the temperature rises up to 43 degree Celsius in the Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and its surroundings resultantly the early melting of glaciers started, water vapours also went to the maximum in the atmosphere and the process of condensing started.

This indicates that risks and uncertainties are increasing in the region, with greater frequency of extreme climatic events, extreme minimum and maximum temperature and increased incidence of temperature-influenced disasters as K-P for the last two decades suffered from a series of natural disasters including floods, GLOF, earthquakes, hurricanes, avalanches, heat wave and droughts.

The heat wave is quite a new phenomenon and the reason behind floods can be the current climate change.

The unprecedented monsoon precipitation (rains) and glacier melting increased the base flow of rivers and subsequently water level reached the extreme level in the upper catchment areas which led to high-level floods generation which impacted the low-lying districts and resultantly caused damages at Khawazakhela, Charrsada and Nowshera.

Environmentalist Sajid Ali said “Climate change directly influences weather patterns, especially precipitation. With rising temperatures, there is greater surface evaporation leading to a greater concentration of water vapours in the atmosphere, which results in heavier downpours. The climate zones of the country are mainly from North, Northwest, West, and Coastal areas have shown an overall changing rainfall pattern.”

“The depletion of natural resources, water shortage, and food insecurity are some of the risk factors because of rapid climate change trends in the country. Also, the country is facing adverse impacts of climate change for the last many decades. Therefore, the world must fulfil its promises and help those countries that are being severely affected by climate change,” he said.

The devastating monsoon this year claimed more than 300 lives and damaged and destroyed 91,463 houses across K-P.

According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), at least 306 people died and 369 people were injured since 15 June. Around 37,525 houses were destroyed while 53,938 houses were partially damaged across the province.