Climate Change Impacts: How Ready is Pakistan?

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Background: Climate change is an issue that is being addressed at every level of government and society these days. International treaties are in negotiation, federal, provincial/state and local government studies are being conducted to find out different response strategies. In developing countries, such as Pakistan, climate change poses a serious challenge to its social, environmental and economic development. Introduction: The rapid changes in the climate (e.g. temperature/extreme events) present a challenge to develop climate change response mechanisms in Pakistan. The people in Pakistan, like many other developing countries, are considered ‘vulnerable’ to the impacts of climate change. Purpose:The purpose of this paper is to review the climate variability and its impacts in Pakistan, and to find out the best possible ways for reducing the vulnerability of its population from the climatic hazards. Methodology/Approach:
The methodology was designed by taking the concept of ‘adaptive governance’ (in the context of climate change) and applying this at the ‘local government level’ in Pakistan. This approach helped in finding out the key climate change response mechanism for reducing the vulnerability of Pakistani community. Findings:
The research finds out that the implementation of ‘adaptation strategies in conjunction with the sustainable development policy agenda’ (such as; mainstreaming climate change, land use-planning, settlements and infrastructure, emergency planning, good governance / better coordination and capacity building) at the local government level in Pakistan would reduce the vulnerability of its population. Practical Implications: he paper provides valuable information to getting insight into the formulation of climate change response mechanism for Pakistan. Originality: The paper has implied the concept of ‘adaptive governance’ (in the context of climate change) and applied it at the ‘local government level’ in Pakistan.

Stream: Human Impacts

Paper: Climate Change Impacts

Mr. Muhammad Saleem Janjua is a PhD candidate as well as Editor of AdaptNet with the RMIT University, Australia, http://gc.nautilus.org/author/msjanjua1, http://www.globalcollab.org/gci/adaptnet/. Previously, he has worked with the UNIDO (researcher) and Pakistan's EPA. He has written a number of research papers / conference papers. His research interest has three inter-related foci: integration of coastal climate change adaptation and development objectives in developing economies of Asia; policies for sustainable development; and environmental protection issues. The title of his proposed PhD is ‘Opportunities for Climate Change Adaptation in Developing Countries - A Case Study of Local Governments in Pakistan’.