Environmental activists, journalists and human rights activists have underlined the need to take concrete measures for mitigating the adverse effects of climate change in Pakistan, which have posed threat to human life, animals, marine life and overall all environment of the country.
They were speaking at a Media Dialogue on “Climate Change Challenges for Pakistan” in connection with the UN Conference of Parties (COP26) jointly organized by The Karachi Press Club and The Knowledge Forum at KPC on Friday.
The COP26 will continue till November 12 in Glasgow, UK.Nasir Panhwar, Climate Change Expert, Jamil Junejo, Environmental Expert, Naeem Qureshi, President of National Forum for Environment and Health, Ms. Zeenia Shaukat, Director of The Knowledge Forum, Saqib Saghir, KPC Joint Secretary and Shujauddin Qureshi of TKF were the main speakers.
“Floods, droughts and sea intrusion incidents have increased and it is feared that millions of people would be affected and face poverty and displacement,” said environmental expert Nasir Panhwar in his keynote speech.
Sea intrusion is causing destruction of the Indus Delta, he said, adding that there were 17 creeks of River Indus which was making the Indus Delta but now only a few creeks are left.
Panhwar said Pakistan is one of the countries that has signed many international agreements but implementation is very poor.
Pakistan has also signed the Paris Agreement in 2015. “We have to be prepared for it,” he said.
According to a report, there would be a bad impact on poor countries because they don’t have any support mechanism.
Naeem Qureshi said that urban areas are facing deforestation, sea intrusion and heat waves because of the cutting of trees.
Junejo said that coastal communities, especially fishermen, are badly hit by climate change. Thousands of families have been displaced from the Indus Delta area, he said.
In Pakistan, LNG infrastructure is expanding. Currently, LNG share was 11 percent in the energy mix which was zero percent a few years ago and it is increasing. Its expansion has posed threats to marine life, mangroves and fishing communities.
Zeenia Shaukat said Pakistan is the 8th most-affected country due to climate change. Quoting the latest World Bank report on the climate profile of Pakistan, she said rates of warming in Pakistan is considerably above the global average with a potential rise of 1.3°C–4.9°C by the 2090s.
Increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events and disaster risks and there is fear of an increase in the number of people affected by flooding with a likely increase of around 5 million people exposed to extreme river floods by 2035–2044.
Saghir advised the journalists to utilize their right to information and get official data from the government department by filing formal applications.
