Ayesha Mudassar

Climate change is adversely affecting economies and pushing millions of people into poverty, said Executive Director Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr. Abid Q. Suleri while talking to WealthPK. Dr. Abid said the most recent and shocking manifestation of climate change was the 2022 deadliest flood. Torrential rains drenched one-third of Pakistan's territory, affected 33 million people, devastated critical infrastructure, and caused a $30 billion financial loss.

As per the Global Climate Risk Index of German Watch, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to the ravages of climate change. Talking to INP-WealthPK, Associate Research Fellow of SDPI Dr. Zainab Naeem said the contributing factors to climate change include extensive deforestation, inability to control pollution, combustion of fossil fuels, and non-compliance with the standard waste disposal processes.

Industrialized Global North has been a major contributor to climate change through its unfettered carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution. Twenty largest economies are responsible for 80 percent of greenhouse gases, while 46 least developed countries are contributing just one percent to the world’s carbon emissions. Poor nations are suffering the most due to their unpreparedness for environmental disasters.

Climate change refers to a long-term shift in temperature and weather patterns and its effects are demonstrated through rising earth temperature, an increase in extreme weather events, collapsing ice shelves and retreating glaciers, as well as rising sea levels. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the earth's temperature has increased by 0.85°c over the last 100 years. As per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenland lost 150-250 cubic kilometers and Antarctica lost 152 cubic kms of ice.

According to the International Commission on Ice and Snow, the glaciers are melting everywhere in the world – The alps, Himalayas, Andes, Alaska, and Africa. Intensified climate-induced disasters have been frequently witnessed across different parts of the world.  Hurricanes in Florida, torrential rainfall in Pakistan, and droughts in parts of Africa all are manifestations. Considering the adverse impacts, the countries need to contribute their share to the global fight against climate change to ensure sustainability for future generations. Implementation of the right policies and practices is the need of the hour.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk