By: Rida Sohail
The variation in global surface temperatures is known as climate change. It alludes to a sudden rise in temperature that has severe impacts on aquatic life, agriculture, the economy, and health. The industrial revolution of the 19th and 20th centuries, the burning of fossil fuels, natural processes, and other anthropogenic activities are the main causes of climate change in Pakistan, where temperatures are rising day by day. Pakistan is experiencing climate change for a number of important reasons. One of them is that fossil fuels are used to generate the electricity, which results in carbon emissions.
Poor fuel quality prevents catalytic converters, which are used to minimise hazardous gases and pollutants, from functioning correctly. As a result, airborne contaminants that are released by cars quickly spread. The number of vehicles in Pakistan has increased quickly over the past 20 years. Between 1991 and 2012, there was a 65% increase in the number of motorcars and a 45% increase in the number of motorbikes and scooters, both of which emit carbon emissions as a type of pollution. Climate change is mostly caused by global warming. Different greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, CFCs, and methane gas, absorb heat from sunlight. Compared to usual patterns, these gases are rising quickly. The amount of these gases in the atmosphere grows as they absorb more heat, which causes the temperature to rise more rapidly. As a result, the climate changes as a result of the rise in temperature, disrupting the ecosystem’s normal cycles and the environment.
As a result, climate change has some terrible consequences. The polar regions’ excessive temperatures have a negative impact on the habitat of arctic animals like polar bears, puffins, penguins, and bears. It interferes with their sexual cycle and lowers the rate of reproduction. As the temperature rises, the ice sheets shrink and the sea level rises as a result. This modifies the ocean’s temperature further and finally upsets the aquatic life.
Additionally, the melting of glaciers results in flooding in the adjacent cities. Glaciers melt as a result of the rising sea level. The evaporating glaciers produce more water vapour than usual, increasing the amount of rain. Pakistan is placed fifth among the nations most adversely affected by climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index Annual Report (2020). Because of the exceptional precipitation and glacier melting in Pakistan, the terrible floods in July 2022 were the outcome. 33 million people were negatively impacted by the floods since they were so severe and devastating. Aside from that, it is expected that Pakistan won’t have any water reserves in the form of glaciers by the year 2035 because the glaciers are continuously melting due to the rise in temperature in Pakistan.
As a result, if every Pakistani worked to switch to renewable energy sources like solar and wind, they would prevent the production of greenhouse emissions. We desperately need regulations, such ones requiring factories to use air purification systems. Plastic bags ought to be avoided. Given that an increase in vehicle traffic may result in higher carbon emissions, public transit should be encouraged. Vehicle retirement age should be determined by government. Regulations for automobiles ought to be in place. To keep contaminants from entering the atmosphere, modern technology for burning solid waste should be used. The environment will also be cleaned by adding more trees to the city. Pakistan’s governing bodies should focus on the various sectors that are affected by climate change because it is making the situation worse.
Every Pakistani citizen has a responsibility to play a part in maintaining the peace and cleanliness of their neighborhood and to work with Pakistan’s ruling authorities. Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, has issued a statement. “Climate change is the greatest threat to the future of humanity.” It implies that we should endeavor to improve climate change and treat it seriously because it poses a significant threat to our next generation.