CLIMATE CHANGES

AND ITS IMPACTS ON

PAKISTAN

Introduction

Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven

cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt
end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago
marking the beginning of the modern climate era
and of human civilization.

The current warming trend is of particular

significance because most of it is very likely humaninduced.

There is no question that increased levels of

greenhouse gases must cause the Earth to warm in
response. Ice cores drawn from Greenland,
Antarctica, and tropical mountain glaciers show that
the Earths climate responds to changes in
greenhouse gas levels.

Evidence For Rapid

Climate Change

Sea level rise

Global temperature rise

Warming oceans

Shrinking ice sheets

Declining Arctic sea ice

Glacial retreat

Extreme events

Ocean acidification

Decreased snow cover

Situation in Pakistan

In the summer of 2010, over 20 million people were

affected by the summer floods in Pakistan.

Before Climate changes Pakistan were experiencing

well distributed rains during the monsoon season.

Now thanks to climate change, the monsoon is

becoming more erratic.

This season the rainfall was largely below normal and

now at the end of the monsoon we have a strong
system with high intensity rainfall which is causing
destruction,

In 2010, Pakistan was listed as the number one

country in the world affected by climate related
disasters (due to the massive flooding that hit
the country)

Last years report listed Haiti, the Philippines

and Pakistan as hardest hit by weather
disasters in 2012

Countries Highly affected by Climate

Change

A recent BBC report on communicating climate change in

Pakistan finds that:

people across the country are now experiencing unpredictable

rainfall, increased temperatures, and changes to the seasons.

The Climate Asia Report found that 54 per cent of people that
they surveyed across Pakistan think life has become worse in
recent years.

They have much lower confidence in their government to act.

Climate change is not going away; in fact it is going to get

much worse and the government needs to adapt to its
impacts on an urgent basis.

Pakistan must act now. Other countries in the region like

Bangladesh are already doing it and we can learn from them.

Measures to cope with

climate change?

Increasing access to high quality information about the

impacts of climate change

Practicing energy efficiency through changes in individual

lifestyles and businesses

Promoting good governance and responsible policy by

integrating risk management and adaptation

Developing new and innovative farm production practices,

including new crop varieties and irrigation techniques

Improving forest management and biodiversity

conservation

Causes Of Climate
Changes

Natural Causes

Volcanic Activity

Solar Irradiance

The Earths Orbit Around The Sun

Human Causes

Human activities changing the natural

greenhouse

Burning of fossil fuels increasing the

concentration of atmospheric CO2.

Clearing of land for agriculture, industrial

activities and other human activities increasing
the concentration of greenhouse gases.

Causes Of Climate
Changes

Short-lived and Long-lived Climate Forcers

Short Lived ; these include methane and

tropospheric ozone both greenhouse gases
and black carbon, a small solid particle formed
from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based
fuels.

Long Lived ; these include long lived greenhouse

gases like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Gases Contributing To
Greenhouse Effect

Water Vapor

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous Oxide

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

VULNERABILITY OF PAKISTAN
TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Pakistan is very high on vulnerability scale Pakistan is

very high on vulnerability scale

Weather Changes Weather Changes

Expected increases in temperatures Expected increases

in temperatures

Geographical location already places the Geographical

location already places the

country in country in heat surplus zone of earth heat

surplus zone of earth

Expected changes in precipitation patterns Expected

changes in precipitation patterns

Scientists believe that Climate Change might Scientists

believe that Climate Change might take away or alter
take away or alter monsoon monsoon from the Indo from
the Indo

--Pak Pak

Potential Impacts on
Natural Resources

The increases in temperature and late/intensive

monsoon rains will:

Further enhance the ongoing process of land degradation

Cause increasing glacier out-falls and enhance land slides

Further increase siltation loads down stream

Bring changes in species patterns (fast growing species are

expected to take over and will affect the native biodiversity)

Cause shift in special boundaries (shifts of conifers and

alpine species towards higher altitude are expected)

Positive impact of agriculture and crop yields is

expected.

Potential Impact on
Agriculture
Spatial shifts in cropping zones and agro ecological
Boundaries:

Shortened growing season length for wheat (wheat rice, and wheat-cotton, wheat-sugarcane systems).

But more time will be available for land preparation of

summer crops

Increased water logging and salinity

Increased incidence of insects, pests, and diseases

Potential Impacts on
Crop Yields
Winter

crop yields (wheat) might increase due

to carbon fertilisation, but the increase will be
more than offset by reduced growing season
and water shortages

Summer

crop yields (rice, cotton, sugarcane)

might increase, again due to carbon
fertilisation, and improved land preparation, but
the increase will be offset by excessive heat,
and water shortage.

Thank you