By : Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar
The industrial revolution and inventions of science and technology has brought significant changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions over extended periods. It is because of the modern-day development and other human activities that the Earth has undergone drastic natural climate changes. Deforestation, and unsustainable land use, brick kilns, transportation, smog and pollution are identified as primary drivers of the current changes in climate.
Geological history is witness that the Earth’s climate has changed since its existence through stone ages, Ice ages and warm periods have alternated since the beginning of the Universe. However, the changes observed in this modern era are unprecedented in their magnitude and speed.
The main reason of climate change is the greenhouse effect, a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. However, human activities have significantly increased the concentrations of these gases, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. This enhanced greenhouse effect has led to a rise in global temperatures, commonly referred to as global warming.
The main Greenhouse Gases are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), resulting mainly from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes; Methane (CH4) more effective in trapping heat than CO2 actually comes from agriculture, livestock and natural gas production; Nitrous Oxide (N2O) basically emitted from agriculture and industrial activities, as well as during fossil fuel combustion has also a significant warming potential while as Fluorinated Gases are used in various industrial applications and can have a much greater warming effect than CO2.
Pakistan is warming significantly faster than the global average. Rainfall is becoming more erratic and intense. Monsoon patterns are shifting, leading to shorter, more intense bursts of rain interspersed with longer dry spells. Pakistan, a land sculpted by the mighty Indus and crowned by the world’s highest mountains, finds itself perilously perched on the frontlines of the global climate crisis. Contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it paradoxically ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts according to the Global Climate Risk Index.
Pakistan faces perennial flood risks, primarily from the Indus River system and its tributaries. Climate change exacerbates this through heavier monsoon rains, rapid glacial melt, and increased incidence of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods. Pakistan hosts over 7,000 glaciers, forming the largest reservoir of ice outside the poles. These glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate due to rising temperatures. Floods in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir have become now monsoon season.
Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall are increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of droughts, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh. Deadly heatwaves are becoming more frequent, severe, and prolonged, especially in urban centers like Karachi and southern plains. Warming Arabian Sea surface temperatures are fueling more intense tropical cyclones making landfall along the Sindh and Balochistan coast, causing storm surges, coastal erosion, and saline intrusion.
This profound injustice underscores the reality that climate vulnerability is not solely dictated by contribution but by geography, socio-economic fragility, and existing environmental pressures. The consequences are no longer distant projections; they are visceral realities reshaping landscapes, shattering livelihoods, and threatening the very fabric of Pakistani society.
This article digs deep into the multifaceted impacts of climate change on Pakistan, exploring its manifestations, the dropping effects across critical sectors, the immense adaptation and mitigation challenges, and the pathways towards a more tough future.
It is paramount for Pakistan’s survival to have massive investments in resilient infrastructure, flood defenses, climate-proofed housing, proper water storage, early warning systems, ecosystem restoration, forests and climate-smart agriculture.
