The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has rung alarm bells over the risk of flooding in several areas of Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, central and northeastern Punjab, and Islamabad. Torrential rains in these areas are expected for the next few days. Over the years, changing weather patterns have posed a bigger threat to human survival than anything else, making us believe that pop culture got it all wrong when it came to the apocalypse. The end of times won’t be triggered by one final event, but will be spread over a series of exhausting climatic incidents. These irregular weather patterns are our apocalypse. And the only way to deal with this is to take measures to prevent the wrath of nature. Precautions like evacuating risk-prone areas, restricting tourist activities, and clearing drains to let water flow easily are of great importance. But equally important is to bring a shift in our approach towards climate action.
Experts have highlighted over and over that our unchecked practices are damaging the environment. Our discussions, however, are more focused on how the developing world, which is responsible for a majority of global emissions, can extend financial aid to us to recover the losses caused by the climate challenge. While it is true that rich nations should be responsible for compensating for the damage caused to the environment, this does not absolve developing countries like us of their responsibility. Our leniency has also resulted in adverse consequences. Environmental experts have been warning successive governments against razing down fertile land, which also has the ability to absorb rainwater, and constructing concrete plazas and housing societies – something that policymakers see as a good way to attract much-needed foreign exchange. Rains in Dubai a couple of months back, a hurricane in Texas, and heavy rains in Toronto are a dangerous result of people’s consumption habits all over the world.
Pakistan needs to realize that it has to deal with its climate challenge. Just like the Punjab government has decided to treat smog as a year-round challenge, the federal and provincial governments should adopt a similar approach to tackling climate challenges. Sustainable and climate-resilient designs should be introduced for all infrastructure. Measures like the adequate disposal of waste, drain clearing, and smaller dams and water reservoirs should be introduced to ensure that heavy rains do not cause much large-scale damage. Institutions set up for dealing with climate change should start work without any delays. More efforts should be made to ensure that flooding does not cause long-term displacement, which adds more financial strain on cities already struggling with scarce resources. Vehicle insurance should also be introduced for people, especially those classified as essential workers, who often bear hefty expenses when their vehicles get stuck in standing water. Climate change is a reality, and it is essential that we move away from stopgap measures and introduce a long-term plan to keep ourselves safe from the deleterious effects of climate change.