Incoming heatwave.

Climate change is caused by an increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. In Pakistan, environmental degradation and climate change are affecting the national economy, livelihood of the poor and sustainable development adversely. The ever growing population, unplanned rapid urban expansion and dependence on natural resources puts immense pressure on the environment that triggered climate change. Moreover, a lack of awareness on the part of the general public regarding environmental issues has further aggravated the situation.

According to the National Forest Reference emissions level findings, the country on the whole is maintaining 4786 million hectares (5.45 percent) of area under forest cover. This meagre forest cover area is due to the ever growing population and the dependence on the natural resources coupled with deforestation. All of this has reduced the country to the level of one of the most vulnerable to climate change effects.

Ever-growing environmental challenges have obvious socio-economic challenges. Heatwaves impact crop cycles, floods, drought and degradation of water and air quality also pose a negative impact on the quality of life. In order to cope with the challenge of climate change, such matters should be addressed on a priority basis.

The government has already taken multiple measures. Plantation is the most appealing strategy to expand forest-covered area in the country. Forestation will obviously increase the absorption capacity of greenhouse gases, regulate water flows and protect coastal communities from extreme events and sea level rise. Additionally, they also improve migrating plant and animal species routes to resilient habitats. There must be a call for immediate and serious interventions supported with the commitment for ensuring adequate financial flows to improve and enhance the overall forestry, wildlife and biodiversity sector.

Only last year, the country had suffered very heavily due to adverse climate change effects. Snow clouds had burst, glaciers had melted and the country had experienced unpredictable rains, resulting in one of the deadliest floods. These floods took a heavy toll on people who were swept away, standing crops were washed away over a vast area, large number of houses were heavily damaged or totally collapsed and a large number of people were left homeless after surviving the onrushing flood water or rains.

All this had happened quite unexpectedly...

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