Pakistan: Apocalyptic Impacts of Climate Change

The ungoing situation of climate change has a potential to bring apocalypse upon the human race living on planet earth. The impact of harsh weather might be slow but it is causing gradual damage to our ecosystem.

A study report compiled by the United Nations Food and Agriculture organization (FAO) reveals appalling statistics of food insecurity. It tells that more than 1850m people around the world have poor nutrition due to food insufficiency. The World Food Program (WFO) has warned that 41m people could be suffering a violent hunger due to the growing shortage of food. In this context, Pakistan is the most ill-fated country.

According to the Global Hunger Index 2021 it ranks 92nd among 116 most prone countries to food insufficiency caused by global climate change. Pakistan has been a poor victim of extreme weather. Infrequent rain patterns, devastating flood torrents and scorching heat waves are evidentiary fact that climate change catastrophe has come upon us.

Being a climatic-sensitive country, since past years’ droughts and famines have become yearly endemic, our ground water reservoirs and fresh water supplies are on constant decline. While agriculture has a tremendous role in our economy. 23 pc of our GDP depends upon agriculture. Pakistan's major exports belong to the agriculture sector. Urban population in general and poor farming families in particular are interdependent. Because farming and agriculture not only provide food grains but it provides employment opportunities as well.

In this regard climate change threat is directly proportional to food insecurity. It will give rise to food inflation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reveals that extreme weather can be expectedly worse in future. Similarly UNESCAP warns that in that condition Pakistan could probably lose 9 pc of its GDP.

Unfortunately, Pakistan is trying to hammer away many other chronic issues like political crises, poverty and economic deficiency. Certainly climate driven food insecurity will catch it in a crunch. Now to cope up with the emerging challenge of global warming we need to brace up ourselves. What Pakistan needs to change is its strategy. Adaptation of modern agriculture practices through sustainable development.

Crop cultivation shall be adjusted as per the changing weather patterns. To enhance soil productivity modern soil refreshing techniques shall be implemented. To jack up moribund sector of agriculture Pakistan should approach the farming community with financial incentives to build effective market infrastructure. Moreover, climate smart farming and corps diversification through non-conventional methods of agriculture is need of an hour. To cater expanding population bulge we need to enhance our productivity.

In this ongoing scenario crop productivity can be achieved only if sustainable methods of mechanized farming and land development are adopted. We need to move towards alternative cost-effective tech and equipment. To ensure optimum safety and security proper water management is required. Construction of small dams to control water lose and effective flood irrigation system can protect crops from flash floods and torrents. Besides water logging and lowering salinity should be priority to enhance soil’s production potential.

Therefore, it is very much certain that devastating impacts of climate change are threatening the food value chain all around the world. From the increasing factor of CO2 to the dwindling food grain coffers, each and every aspect of climate change is posing a danger to our existence.

We need to adopt effective remedial measures. This is not sole responsibility of government but it requires community-led efforts. Mobilization of public through better aware campaign while taking onboard actual stakeholders of business industry and agriculture collectively can pave path for resilient and sustainable economy against the climate change.