Pakistan in Pursuit of Global Agenda – II b.

Forest Conservation
 Reforestation Programs: Initiatives to
Global Environmental Problems and plant trees and restore forests to combat
Pakistan deforestation, including the "Ten Billion
1. Climate Change Trees Tsunami" program.
 Overview: Climate change is a major  Significance: Forests contribute to
global challenge, impacting weather biodiversity, climate regulation, and
patterns, sea levels, and ecosystems. livelihoods for local communities.
Pakistan is particularly vulnerable due to 3. Pollution and Environmental Degradation
its geographic location and socio-  Overview: Rapid industrialization and
economic conditions. urbanization have led to severe pollution
a. Paris Agreement and environmental degradation in
 Global Effort: An international treaty Pakistan.
aiming to limit global warming to well a. Clean Air Initiatives
below 2°C, with efforts to restrict it to  Air Quality Management:
1.5°C. Implementation of air quality standards
 Pakistan's Commitment: Pakistan is a and monitoring systems in urban areas
signatory and has committed to reducing to reduce air pollution levels.
greenhouse gas emissions and  Public Awareness Campaigns: Efforts
enhancing resilience to climate impacts. to educate citizens about pollution
b. National Climate Change Policy sources and health impacts.
 Framework for Action: Established in b. Water Conservation
2012, this policy outlines strategies for  Water Scarcity Issues: Challenges
climate adaptation and mitigation. related to over-extraction, wastage, and
 Key Goals: To increase resilience in pollution of water sources.
vulnerable sectors like agriculture,  Initiatives: Promotion of water-saving
water, and infrastructure, and to promote technologies and practices, like drip
sustainable development practices. irrigation and rainwater harvesting.
c. Renewable Energy Development c. Plastic Waste Management
 Importance: Transitioning to renewable  Pollution Crisis: Increasing
energy sources like solar, wind, and accumulation of plastic waste poses
hydropower to reduce dependence on risks to human health and the
fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas environment.
emissions.  Policy Actions: Bans on plastic bags,
 Initiatives: Investment in solar parks, promotion of recycling programs, and
wind farms, and policies to promote public awareness campaigns on plastic
clean energy production and reduction.
consumption.
Pakistan's Climate Change Challenge
2. Biodiversity Loss and Deforestation  Overview: Pakistan faces several
 Overview: Deforestation and climate-related challenges due to its
biodiversity loss threaten ecosystems geography and socio-economic
and livelihoods in Pakistan. vulnerabilities.
a. Protected Areas 1. Water Scarcity
 Conservation Efforts: Establishment of  Decreasing Water Availability: Over-
national parks and wildlife reserves to extraction of water resources and erratic
protect endangered species and habitats. rainfall patterns have led to substantial
 Examples: Khunjerab National Park water shortages.
and Margalla Hills National Park.  Impact: Affects agriculture, drinking
water supply, and overall food security.
2. Extreme Weather Events conserve existing forests as a means of
 Increased Frequency: More frequent carbon sequestration.
floods, droughts, and heatwaves due to  Community Engagement: Involving
climate change. local communities in conservation
 Consequences: Damage to efforts to ensure sustainable practices.
infrastructure, loss of lives, and
displacement of communities. Climate Change and Air Quality
3. Agriculture Impacts  Direct Impact: Climate change
 Food Security Threat: Changes in exacerbates air pollution through
climate patterns disrupt crop production, increased temperatures and changes in
affecting livelihoods. meteorological conditions.
 Adaptive Measures: Development of  Health Risks: Poor air quality leads to
climate-resilient crops and sustainable respiratory diseases and other health
agricultural practices. complications for affected populations.
4. Glacier Retreat
 Effects of Rising Temperatures: Addressing Air Quality Issues
Glaciers in the Himalayas and  Monitoring Systems: Implementation
Karakoram are melting rapidly, of air quality monitoring to track
threatening water supply. pollutants and inform public health
 Long-term Consequences: Increased strategies.
flooding followed by water shortages as  Legislation: Stronger laws and
glaciers retreat. regulations in place to control emissions
5. Coastal Vulnerability from industries and vehicles.
 Rising Sea Levels: Coastal areas,
especially in Sindh and Balochistan, are Species Extinction in Pakistan Due to Climate
at risk of flooding and erosion. Change
 Impact on Communities: Displacement  Threatened Species: Changes in habitat
of populations and loss of livelihoods and climate conditions lead to loss of
for fishermen and farmers. biodiversity.
 Conservation Efforts: Focus on
Addressing Pakistan's Climate Change protecting endangered species and
Challenges restoring habitats threatened by climate
1. Climate Change Policy impacts.
 Comprehensive Framework: The Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change
policy focuses on both mitigation and  Adaptation Strategies: Developing
adaptation strategies to address climate systems and infrastructure to withstand
change impacts effectively. climate impacts, such as flood defense
 Implementation Plans: Action plans measures and improved water
for various sectors to enhance resilience management.
and reduce emissions.  Public Awareness: Educating the
2. Renewable Energy Transition public on climate impacts and how to
 Investment in Renewables: Increased contribute to mitigation efforts.
investments in clean energy projects to Ozone Layer Depletion
reduce reliance on fossil fuels and  Global Issue: Depletion of the ozone
enhance energy security. layer due to human-made chemicals like
 Policy Support: Government incentives CFCs increases UV radiation exposure,
and regulations promoting renewable raising health risks.
energy development.  Pakistan's Role: Engagement in global
3. Afforestation and Conservation efforts to restore the ozone layer through
 Tree Planting Initiatives: Major compliance with agreements like the
programs to plant new trees and Montreal Protocol.
Addressing Ozone Layer Depletion
 Legislative Measures: Implementing
laws to control the use of ozone-
depleting substances.
 Awareness Campaigns: Promoting
understanding of ozone layer
conservation and its importance for
health.

Global Warming and Pakistan

 Rising Temperatures: Pakistan
experiences higher temperature trends
and unusual weather patterns due to
global warming.
 Impact on Ecosystems: Disruption of
natural habitats and species extinction.

Addressing Global Warming in Pakistan

 Mitigation Efforts: Policies aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions
through energy efficiency, sustainable
transport, and industrial practices.
 International Cooperation:
Collaborating with global initiatives and
agreements to address climate change
collectively.