Climate change: need stressed to develop early warning system

An early warning system is essential in order to avoid losses to lives and properties, speakers said on Wednesday at a seminar on “Climate change and its impact on the coastal communities.” The event was organised by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), and was attended by a large number of fisherfolk from different coastal villages and freshwater bodies as well as experts and representatives of civil society organisations.

Speakers quoted recent reports regarding the effects of global climate change, and said that the increasing impact of green house gases, the rise in sea levels, droughts and rapid urbanisation have caused an increase in the frequency of cyclones.

Advisor to Chief Minister on Disaster Management, Ghulam Mustafa Abro, said that the present government was worried about natural calamities, and therefore wished to work with all stakeholders for the safety of people residing in the coastal belt of the province. “Sindh’s coastline is the most disaster-prone area and focus should be laid on the training of coastal communities,” he said.

Meteorological Department Head Mohammed Riaz said the department has a limited communication system to disseminate information quickly about any emergency four to five days earlier, adding: “It is up to certain organisations to take precautionary measures in this regard”.

He said there was no such threat to the environment only a decade ago but at present the entire world was facing similar problems. PFF Chairperson Muhammad Ali Shah said that 222 cyclones have hit the country since its inception, of which eight have hit Sindh’s coastal belt. A cyclone in 1999 was disastrous and claimed hundreds of lives and devastated the entire coastal economy of districts Badin and Thatta. He said that the changing climate was itself an indication of disaster.

“Scientists have declared that the coming 15 years will be very crucial for the world, when owing to increasing temperature level, ice on the glaciers will melt and make its way to the sea which will increase the sea level by five to six feet,” Shah said. “All impacts of climate change are borne by people living in the coastal areas. The Sindh coastline has been experiencing worst sea intrusion, land erosion, flash floods, cyclones and drought conditions for the last two decades, which has largely affected its surface and groundwater resources as well as other natural livelihood resources”.

Shah further said that the sea level was rising, while water for agriculture and drinking was decreasing. He urged the government to deal this serious disastrous issue rather than working on petty development projects. “One such major issue is the rehabilitation of the Indus Delta by sending in it 35MAF water each year, to protect mangroves and avoid marine pollution,” he said.

“We can observe changes in the entire world due to climate change and these changes are affecting South Asia the most,” Tahir Qureshi from the IUCN said. He blamed the government for not taking measures to avoid disasters in the future. He also urged government departments concerned to keep an eye on the disaster management activities as well as to ensure the allocation of sufficient budget for relief and rehabilitation and to improve early warning systems. Source The News International