8/7/2019 Climate concernes trigger search for solutions

1/1

ENVIRONMSPECIAL REPORT

The effects of climate

change, such as the gradual

disappearance of glaciers in

the north and drought in the

south, are taking root in Pakistan.

Climate change is one of the mostcritical global challenges for Pak-

istan, according to the World Wide

for Fund for Nature (WWF) (see

box for definitions).

Global warming is a killer!

Experts say Pakistans unique

location and expansive geography

make it particularly vulnerable to

the varied threat of global warm-

ing. Due to the countrys size and

the diversity of its landscape, Pak-

istanis will not experience global

warming uniformly. Some regions,

such as Balochistan, may experi-

ence an increased prevalence of

drought, while others, such as

Sindh, may experience heavy rains

and flooding.

Experts are already predicting

severe water shortages for agrariancommunities in the upper Indus

river basin. By encouraging disease

and creating extensive water short-

ages, extreme heat will only exac-

erbate the impact global warming

has on the public. The threat, ex-

perts warn, has already arrived.

There have been some very

obvious incidences in recent years

showing that frequencies of cy-

clones have increased significantly,

WWF coordinator for programmes

Amna Shahab tells NGO World.

As global warming ap-

proaches, Pakistan is in dire need

of environmental experts who are

able to implement existing poli-

cies, such as the Environmental

Protection Act of 1997 and the na-

tional water policy submitted to

the federal cabinet for approval in

2004. These policies will improveenvironmental conditions and

help the public meet critical chal-

lenges like the reduction of green-

house gas emissions (GHGs).

Agriculture blues

The devastating impact of Hur-

ricane Katrina in the US on 27 Au-

gust 2005 and the 8 October 2005

earthquake in northern Pakistan

are prime examples that natural

disasters almost always affect vul-

nerable populations most severely.

Climate change in Pakistan is

no exception. With 67 per cent of

Pakistanis living in rural areas that

are dependent upon natural re-sources, poor Pakistanis would be

most severely affected by a dra-

matic shift in weather, the WWF

warns. In fact, the agrarian econ-

omy as a whole is particularly vul-

nerable, says Amna Shahab of WWF.

Most of the rain would come

in blocksin the agrarian regions,

Global Change Impact Study Cen-

tre (GCISC) executive director Dr

Arshad Khan tells NGO World.

Interrupted flow of rainwater

could adversely affect cash crops.

In the next 50 years agricultural

productivity in Pakistan would de-

cline by 10-20 per cent. You need

more reservoirs for water storage.

As a developing country, Pak-

istan is not alone in its vulnerabil-

ity to climate change, Khan added.

Due to their location in tem-

perate regions, developing coun-

tries are more prone to negative

impacts due to increased temper-

atures in comparison to the cooler

north where warm temperatures

are favourable for countries falling

in that region.

Mitigation or adaptation

By signing the Kyoto Protocol

in January 2005, Pakistan was

obliged to establish a Clean Devel-

opment Mechanism (CDM) cell, a

public organization that approves

projects for the credit emissions

reduction initiative.

The cell is involved in raising

awareness activities for CDM, en-

hancement of capacity in CDM

project development, and review-

ing of CDM projects of the indus-

trys stakeholders. While there are

a lot of projects in the pipeline, the

process of getting approval for a

CDM project is long and compli-

cated that could take two to three

years from developing a project

idea to gaining approval from the

CDM Executive Board.

There are a 1000 CDM proj-

ects being implemented world-

wide but only one project so far in

Pakistan has received approval of

the CDM Executive Board, says

Shahab.

To date, according to WWF,

the government has spent PKR

38.94 mln ($573,000) for the pro-

motion of CDM in Pakistan.

The question remains, how-

ever: are investments in environ-

ment protection appropriate at a

time when the country is energy-

starved? Khan, of GCISC, declines

to say.

He believes that Pakistan, as a

member of the Kyoto Protocol, iscommitted to reducing climate

change. But considering that the

country is simultaneously en-

gaged in an uphill struggle to

meet its power shortages, Khan

says energy security should be an

immediate priority for the govern-

ment as well as the private sector.

We have global responsibili-

ties and then we have a national re-

sponsibility,he says. We can only

meet global responsibilities once

we meet our national demands.

Rushing to meet its power

shortages, Pakistan is creating

thermo power plants fuelled by

such heavy pollutants as furnace

oil and sulphur-laden domestic

coal (see table for details).

We have three main sources

of energy, i.e., coal, gas and oil

which are carbon-laden. Foreign

investors are reluctant to help you

develop the freshly found coal re-

serves in Thar since the govern-

ment could not even providethem access to water for the ex-

traction of coal,Khan argues.

Shahab, of WWF, could not

agree more. She says that the cli-

mate change problem facing Pak-

istan is adapting its resources and

development programm

viate climate change.

In spite of its large p

Pakistan accounts for on

cent of the total glob

dioxide emissions,sh e

she warns that low em

not necessarily signal re

years to come. Shahab

the corporate sector sho

couraged to become clitral so that they contrib

vironmental conservatio

The government a

vate sector should ada

policies taking into ac

impacts of climate chan

32 | NGO World | June 2008 June 2008 | NGO Wwww.thengoworld.com www.thengoworld.com

Climate concerns triggersearch for solutions

According to the inter-govern-

mental panel on climate change (IPCC),

climate change refers to a change in

the state of the climate that could be

identified with statistical tests on its

long-term effects and, the mean

and/or the variability of its properties.

It refers to any change in climate

over time, whether due to natural vari-

ability or as a result of human activity.

This usage differs from that in the

UNFCCC, where climate change refers

to a change of climate that is attrib-

uted directly or indirectly to human

activity that alters the composition of

the global atmosphere and that is in

addition to natural climate variability

observed over comparable time peri-

ods.

Source: IPCC, 2007

Definitions of climate change

As globally importantstorehouses of carbon, forestsplay a critical role in influenc-ing the Earth's climate andhelp retard global warming bystoring and sequestering car-bon.

Carbon sequestration isthe process through whichagricultural and forestry prac-tices remove carbon dioxide(CO2) from the atmosphere.

Pakistans annual rate ofdeforestation from 2000-2005was 2.1 per cent, which is the

second highest in AsiAfghanistan, accordingFood & Agriculture Organ

In a Pakistan Institutes 2004 reporNational Forest andResource Assessment(NFRRAS), total forest cPakistan has decrea3.317 mln hectares.

Rangelands cover amately 23.546 mln hewith total vegetation c26.863 mln hectares.Source: WWF, 2008

How could forests alleviate climate change?

Melting glaciers Only source of drinking water

and irrigation in the south

GlacierHeight /Area

(above sea level)Country Meltdown rate

Himalayas 5,600 6,000metres India, Pakistan50-60 metres

per year

Lug gye 1, 31 7 s q. km B hu tan 160 metresper decade

Imja 5,010 metres Nepal 74 metres(2001-2006)

While 192 signatories to the UN Framework Convention

on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gathered for the next

round of climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany this

month, the progress and commitment to resolving the

issue of climate change so far remains unimpressive

and questionable, according to a Greenpeace study.Fakhra Hassan analyzes Pakistans progress in the mit-

igation of unfavourable changes.

Climate change is speculated to trigger extreme weather events in the south

Source: Private Power & Infrastructure Board (PPIB), Is lamabad

Ongoing thermal power plant deals

ProjectCapacity

(MW)Location

Engro Power

Orient Power

Sapphire Power

Saif Power Project

Atlas Power

Halmore Bhikki

Fauji Mari Power

Nishat Chunian Power

AttockGen Power

New Bong

227

225

225

225

225

225

202

200

165

84

Near Daharki,

Sindh

Balloki, Punjab

Muridke, Punjab

Sahiwal, Punjab

Sheikhupura,Punjab

Bhikki, Punjab

Daharki, Sindh

Lahore, Punjab

Rawalpindi

Azad Jammu

Kashmir

Agreement

signed on

29 Oct 07

10 Nov 06

07 Mar 07

13 Jul 07

18 Sep 07

23 Oct 07

30 Aug 07

15 Sep 07

24 Aug 07

31 Aug 07

An estimated 0.4 millionlitres of water per MWinstalled is required for coal-fired power plant. A 225 MWplant would require 8.8 mlnlitres of water per day -approximately 90 per cent of

the water is lost throughevaporation each day.

Source: Sindh Coal Authority

Water requirements for thermal power