Climate change in Pakistan

Pakistan makes a tiny contribution to total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, less than 1% (among the
lowest in the world)[1] but it is among the countries most
vulnerable to climate change, and it has very low technical
and nancial capacity to adapt to its adverse impacts.[2]

also promoting mitigation to the extent possible in a costeective manner;

The eects of climate change and global warming

on Pakistan, the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas,
threatening the volumetric ow rate of many of the most
important rivers of Pakistan. In Pakistan, such eects
are projected to impact millions of lives. As a result of
ongoing climate change, the climate of Pakistan has become increasingly volatile over the past several decades;
this trend is expected to continue.

5. To minimize the risks arising from the expected increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather
events such as oods, droughts and tropical storms;

4. To ensure water security, food security and energy security of the country in the face of the challenges posed
by climate change;

6. To strengthen inter-ministerial decision making and

coordination mechanisms on climate change;

7. To facilitate eective use of the opportunities, particularly nancial, available both nationally and internationClimate Change Mitigation Pakistans greenhouse gas ally;
(GHG) emissions are low compared to international stan- 8. To foster the development of appropriate economic
dards. In 2008 Pakistans total GHG emissions were incentives to encourage public and private sector invest310 million tons of CO2 equivalent. These comprised: ment in adaptation measures;
CO2 54%; Methane (CH4) 36%; Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
9%; Carbon Monoxide (CO) 0.7%; and Non-Methane 9. To enhance the awareness, skill and institutional caVolatile Organic Compounds 0.3%. (Source: National pacity of relevant stakeholders;
GHG inventory 2008). The energy sector is the single 10. To promote conservation of natural resources and
largest source of GHG emission in Pakistan; it accounts long term sustainability.
for nearly 51% of these emissions and is followed by the
agriculture sector (39%), industrial processes (6%), land
use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) (3%) emissions and waste (1%) (Source: National GHG inventory 2 Threats
2008). As such, the most important targets for mitigation
eorts focused on reduction of GHG emissions are the The important climate change threats to Pakistan are:[4]
energy and agriculture sectors. In the energy sector, integration of climate change and energy policy objectives 1. Considerable increase in the frequency and intensity
is particularly important as todays investment will lock of extreme weather events, coupled with erratic monsoon
in the infrastructure, fuel and technologies to be used for rains causing frequent and intense oods and droughts;
decades to come. Similarly, the building and transport 2. Projected recession of the Hindu Kush-Karakoraminfrastructure put in place today should meet the design Himalayan (HKH) glaciers due to global warming and
needs of the future. Therefore, greater attention must be carbon soot deposits from trans-boundary pollution
paid to energy eciency requirements in building codes sources, threatening water inows into the Indus River
and long-term transport planning.[3]
System (IRS);

3. Increased siltation of major dams caused by more frequent and intense oods;

Climate Change Policy

4. Rising temperatures resulting in enhanced heat and

water-stressed conditions, particularly in arid and semiPolicy Objectives The main objectives of Pakistans Cliarid regions, leading to reduced agricultural productivity;
mate Change Policy include:
5. Further decrease in the already scanty forest cover,
1. To pursue sustained economic growth by appropriately from too rapid change in climatic conditions to allow nataddressing the challenges of climate change;
ural migration of adversely aected plant species;
2. To integrate climate change policy with other inter- 6. Increased intrusion of saline water in the Indus delta,
related national policies;
adversely aecting coastal agriculture, mangroves and the
3. To focus on pro-poor gender sensitive adaptation while breeding grounds of sh;
1

7. Threat to coastal areas due to projected sea level rise

and increased cyclonic activity due to higher sea surface
temperatures;

REFERENCES

5 External links

8. Increased stress between upper riparian and lower riparian regions in relation to sharing of water resources;

A 5000-yr Record of Climate Change in Varved

Sediments from the Oxygen Minimum Zone o
Pakistan, Northeastern Arabian Sea

9. Increased health risks and climate change induced migration.

Climate change in the Northwest Frontier Province

of Pakistan

The above threats lead to major survival concerns for

Pakistan, particularly in relation to the countrys water
security, food security and energy security.

Impact of climate change in Pakistan

Disaster Preparedness

Pakistan worst aected by climate change

Climate change in Pakistan: innovation in the absence of government support
Global Warming and its eects in Pakistan

Disaster Preparedness Climate change is likely to increase climate-related natural disasters with the projected increase in the frequency and intensity of ex- 6 References
treme weather events, including oods, droughts, cyclones, landslides triggered by heavy rains and urban [1] Pakistan crafts plan to cut carbon emissions 30% by
ooding due to congestion of storm drainage. Climate
2025. The Express Tribune. 10 June 2015. Retrieved
10 June 2015.
change projections are scenario based, and hence have
some degree of uncertainty. Nonetheless, there are strong
[2] Pakistan National Policy on Climate Change
indications that in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan,
climate change is intensifying the above-mentioned haz- [3] Pakistan National Policy on Climate Change
ards. Pakistan is already experiencing climate change
impacts which are too visible to ignore. Most disasters [4] Pakistan National Policy on Climate Change
or hazards that lead to destruction cannot be prevented;
their impact however, can be minimized by adaptation The main article for this category is Climate change in
Pakistan.
and preparedness measures.

See also
Climate Change
Global warming
Climate of Islamabad
Climate of Karachi
Climate of Lahore
Climate of Faisalabad
Climate of Rawalpindi
Climate of Peshawar
Climate of Quetta
Climate of Multan
Climate of Hyderabad
Climate of Nawabshah
Climate of Gwadar
2001 Islamabad Cloud Burst
List of extreme weather records in Pakistan

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Climate change in Pakistan Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_in_Pakistan?oldid=733647656 Contributors:

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