In realisation of seriousness of recent torrential rains and floods, the Department of Environmental Sciences, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST).
Karachi has submitted a project 'Center of Research on Sustainable Development' with the objective of studying impact of climate change on coastal as well as northern areas and for the research in disaster management in a hope that it would soon be approved by Higher Education Commission.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the Chairman, Department of Environmental Sciences, Dr Arif Zubair said that high temperatures and higher sea levels could devastate economy of the country, displacing millions of people, besides putting the people at risk of infection diseases.
"The global temperatures will rise by up to 4 degree centigrades by 2030, particularly in arid regions of northern Pakistan. There is little room for optimism about the effects of climate change in region unless government takes an immediate action to curb carbon dioxide emissions", he said.
He said: "Higher temperatures coupled with rainfall including more tropical cyclones, flooding and heavier monsoons could put million of people at risk of malaria and other infections diseases.
It can also be predicted that millions of people living in low-lying coastal communities in the country could become displaced as sea level would rise by up to 20 inches over the next 65 years."
Dr Arif Zubair further said it was expected that country's economy would be hit hard by chronic food, water insecurity and epidemic diseases as well as extreme weather events. Being in a region poor country would bear the brunt of climate change, he said.
He said that the country rely on agriculture which was a major component of the economy, so significant impact on agriculture productivity affects the ability of people not only to feed them but also to make money. Global warnings could also alter or destroy coastal ecosystems upon which millions of people depend for fishing related income.
The chairman said that as the country high-ups have little or no information about the risks of climate change and were totally unprepared to deal with its impact on their economies, so there was need to invest in renewable energy sources and prepare for large-scale natural disasters.
This can be possible only by analysing detailed assessment of potential impact of climate change in Pakistan up to 2050 to identify and develop adaptation strategies, he added.
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