In recent years, Pakistan experienced an unprecedented shift in its weather patterns. The climate of the country has veered sharply from what it was just a few decades ago, when there used to be four well-known seasons of the year– winter, spring, summer, autumn. The record-breaking heatwaves, torrential rains and devastating floods have affected millions people since 2010. The 2022 floods alone affected over 33 million people.
The entire villages were washed away, and livelihoods destroyed. Nearly 2 million homes were damaged or obliterated. The situation clearly reveal the extent of Pakistan’s changing climate.
Pakistan’s Changing Climate Extremes Become A New Normal:
Just a few months later, the country recorded some of the highest temperatures on Earth, with Jacobabad and Dadu crossing the 50°C mark – the temperatures at which the human body struggles to survive. Whereas, the relentless floods are going on. They have claimed the lives of more than 170 people so far, about half of them are reportedly children. At least 54 of the deaths came in the past 24 hours, according to the National Disaster Management Authority, after the torrential rains sweeping through Punjab province, collapsing homes and destroying roads. The NDMA also explained that at least 85 children have been killed since the flooding began in the country on June 26.
The latest catastrophes underscore the vulnerability of the country to the evolving dangers of climate change and escalating climate crisis. Pakistan’s Changing Climate is not just random variations in weather; it is a clear sign of the deepening climate crisis brought on by global warming. During this time, the country has recorded some of the highest temperatures on the Earth, with Jacobabad and Dadu crossing the 50°C mark – temperatures at which the human body struggles to survive. In fact, Pakistan’s changing climate has become an everyday reality, so much so that alerts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warning of heatwaves and flash floods have become as common a routine as ringtones on smartphones.
A Climate Notably Different:
The climate the country once knew – defined by four relatively predictable seasons – is now being replaced by erratic and extreme weather conditions. Winters are shorter and milder, while summers are longer and increasingly unbearable, with the monsoon season has become dangerously unpredictable. Unfortunately, this is not normal, and more importantly, this is not temporary. Pakistan’s Changing Climate has crossed new frontiers. The growing effects of climate change for a country that contributes less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions is really to bear a disproportionate share of the consequences.
NDMA Alerts: From Rare Warnings to Daily Routine:
Previously, the disaster alerts were issued a few times a year, but now notifications warning of extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and potential glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), or cyclones are released every few days. The NDMA, in coordination with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), has had to adapt to this new reality of issuing regular weather impact outlooks, early warnings, and community-level guidance against Pakistan’s Changing Climate.
These alerts, which were once considered an exception, are now constant reminders of the climate crisis. For many Pakistanis, receiving a flood or heatwave alert has become as ordinary as receiving a weather updates or a news notifications on mobile phones.
The smartphones buzz with heat advisories in urban centers and alerts about possible landslides, and flash floods dominate local conversations in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Punjab, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Although, the NDMA’s proactive approach is necessary, the very frequency of these alerts reflects how dangerously unstable the Pakistan’s climate change has virtually become.
Why Is Pakistan So Vulnerable?
Several factors contribute to Pakistan’s changing climate and its high vulnerability:
- Geographical Diversity: The country’s varied geography makes it susceptible to a range of climate-related disasters, including glacier melt, droughts, and floods.
- Poor Infrastructure: Many areas lack climate-resilient infrastructure, hence; making even moderate events highly destructive.
- High Dependency on Agriculture: With a majority of the population reliant on agriculture and water from glacier-fed rivers, any disruption in rainfall or temperature patterns can be devastating for the people.
- Limited Resources: Pakistan struggles with financial and technological limitations, which is hindering its ability to implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.
The Human Cost:
Pakistan’s changing climate is not just an environmental issue – it is a human crisis. It is about children unable to attend school because their classrooms are hot or flooded. It is about farmers losing their crops to unexpected heatwaves or monsoon failures. It is about the people developing respiratory illnesses as temperatures are soaring high and the air quality is worsening.
In the heatwaves of the recent years, dozens of people have died due to heatstroke, particularly in urban slums with poor ventilation and limited access to clean drinking water. In the meanwhile, displaced families from flood-hit areas continue to live in makeshift shelters, vulnerable to disease outbreaks and economic ruin.
What Can Be Done?
While Pakistan alone cannot reverse global climate trends, it must prepare for what’s coming. Here’s how:
- Strengthen Early Warning Systems: Continued investment in meteorological forecasting, mobile alerts, as well as community education can save lives during extreme weather events.
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Roads, homes, dams, and canals need to be built or retrofitted to withstand the increasing intensity of the climate events.
- Disaster Preparedness: Community-level training and preparedness, particularly in rural and disaster-prone areas, is crucial.
- Policy and Governance: Strong climate adaptation policies, and implementation of National Climate Change Policy, and coordination between federal and provincial governments are essential.
- Global Climate Justice: Pakistan must continue to advocate for climate justice at the international platforms by demanding financing and support from the countries that are major polluters.
A Wake-Up Call
The NDMA alerts may ring like ringtones now, but they are actually alarms or urgent calls to action. They are reminders that Pakistan’s future depends on how it confronts the climate crisis today.
The story of Pakistan’s changing climate is not one of hopelessness but one of urgency. It is a wake-up call for the world to act before the ringing never stops.
