Climate change is the defining issue of our time. The urgent establishment of Arid Universities in Sindh is a critical step towards enhancing climate adaptation and building resilience in the region. You! takes a look…
In Karachi, we have been grappling with scorching heat and prolonged heat waves, making it seem as though the sun has been relentlessly baking the city. Once celebrated for its mild evenings and lush, tree-lined streets - a city cherished for its beloved mood - Karachi now faces severe climatic challenges. Over the past decade, the city has experienced dramatic shifts in weather patterns. Hotter temperatures and increased flooding have exposed the urgent need for environmental interventions. Development efforts in Karachi have often come at the expense of its natural beauty, contributing to intense heat waves and parched lands in desperate need of rain, starkly illustrating environmental neglect.
The month of May brought unprecedented heat waves. On May 19, the Met Department recorded a temperature of 40.2°C in Karachi, an increase of 4.4°C over the monthly average of 35.8°C, making it the highest temperature logged in 2024 up to that point. However, in June 2024 alone, human casualties from extreme temperatures were staggering. From June 20 to 26, 568 deaths were reported, with 141 occurring on June 25 alone. According to the local news, these figures only account for human lives lost, not livestock casualties, as we lack the technology to accurately calculate these losses.
This escalation is a direct consequence of climate change, which poses a global crisis. According to Germanwatch, an independent developmental, environmental, and human rights organisation that lobbies for sustainable global development, Pakistan ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate impacts. It is worth mentioning here that Germanwatch also publishes the ‘Global Climate Risk Index’. The annually published Global Climate Risk Index analyses to what extent countries have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events. The index takes into account lives lost and financial costs incurred due to such events. According to the index, after the devastating floods of 2022, the country now grapples with extreme heat, making everyday life increasingly unbearable.
Sindh is the second most populous province in Pakistan, with an estimated population of over 50 million. The province contributes around 27 per cent to the national GDP (Gross Domestic Product, which is the most commonly used measure of economic activity) with livestock contributing 62 per cent of the national agriculture GDP. The agriculture sector employs 70 per cent of Sindh’s labour force. Sindh comprises 68,000 km of arid lands, including the Thar, Nara, and Kohistan regions. The Thar region, mainly in the Tharparkar district, extends southwards along the Rann of Kutch. The arid lands cover 60 per cent of Sindh’s total land area. Sindh also boasts a beautiful white desert spanning 23,000 km.
Karachi is a metropolitan city in Sindh Province. When discussing Karachi’s weather, it is essential to remember that Karachi has a semi-arid climate, formerly a hot desert climate, albeit a moderate version influenced by monsoons.
Unfortunately, despite its extensive arid lands and unique soil qualities, Sindh lacks an Arid University (we currently have only one Arid University, located in Rawalpindi). The mandate of an Arid University is to produce high-quality agricultural scientists and to form an organised scientific infrastructure for teaching and research for the development of dry land regions of the country, thus minimising the income gap between the rich and poor and irrigated and arid areas.
Establishing such an institution is crucial for developing agricultural engineers and implementing strategies to manage arid lands and address climate threats effectively. To find an answer, I met Mr Abdul Majeed, a climate activist from District Sanghar. He participated in the UN Climate Change Conference, COP28 held in Dubai in December 2023. Some 85,000 participants, including more than 150 Heads of State and Government, representatives of national delegations, civil society, business, international organisations and climate activists were in attendance. At the conference the debate on non-economic loss and damage was a key topic.
Mr Majeed wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Mr Murad Ali Shah, to highlight this need. He noted that India has numerous Arid Universities and institutions focusing on sustainable development, agricultural innovation, and environmental conservation to cope with the harsh conditions of dry climates. These institutions undertake research-based projects on innovative water conservation and management techniques, such as rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and seawater desalination. Their students have developed techniques for afforestation and sand dune stabilisation to combat desertification in the Thar Desert. They have also created drought-resistant crop varieties, such as improved types of pearl millet, cluster bean, and moth bean, which are crucial for ensuring food security in arid regions.
“It is so unfortunate that despite its extensive arid lands and unique soil qualities, the province of Sindh lacks such institutions,” laments Mr Majeed, highlighting the urgent need for establishing an Arid University. “Globally, governments have recognised the importance of preparing agricultural engineers to address climate challenges. Our neighbouring country has already implemented measures to mitigate environmental threats and ensure the well-being of its people in similar arid regions. Sindh, however, is still in the process of advocating for such an institution,” adds Mr Majeed.
“Sindh province is exposed to numerous adverse natural events and has experienced a wide range of disasters, including floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, heat waves, and tsunamis. As the population and economic assets in Sindh have increased, so has its exposure to natural disasters. Nowadays, Sindh faces significant changes in weather patterns and the monsoon system, resulting in high and merciless temperatures. It has become increasingly difficult to breathe and survive in this extreme heat,” observes Mr Majeed.
The non-economic losses of climate change
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, “Climate change impacts and risks are projected to increase in frequency and severity. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are crucial to managing these risks and protecting vulnerable communities.”
We must remember that climate change directly affects human rights and health. Human health is directly impacted by climate change, which also affects animal health. Since we rely on meat and dairy products from animals, our well-being is indirectly influenced by their health. Therefore, our health is affected both directly by the climate and indirectly through our food. As disaster risk has increased, so has our exposure to non-economic losses and damages.
Non-economic losses (NELs) refer to the adverse impacts of climate change that are not directly measurable in economic terms. These include loss of life, cultural heritage, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. In Karachi, for example, the loss of old trees not only reduces the city’s aesthetic and ecological value but also affects the mental well-being of its residents who have cherished these natural landmarks for generations. Heat waves and extreme weather conditions lead to health issues such as heatstroke and respiratory problems, which are challenging to quantify in economic terms. Additionally, the social fabric of communities is strained as families are displaced or suffer from the loss of loved ones due to climate-related disasters.
Over time, a bigger issue may be migration, prompted by slow, gradual climate change impacts. Hotter temperatures can threaten agricultural livelihoods, sea-level rise can make floods more severe, and desertification can foster conflict over water access, all of which can lead to migration. As Pakistan is a low-income country, it faces a more disastrous situation if alternative job resources are not created. Frequent extreme weather events, food and water shortages, and increased disease transmission caused by climate change heighten existing social and economic inequalities, threatening to reverse progress toward improving children’s well-being. Children are more susceptible to injury and death during natural disasters. Heat waves disproportionately affect children, as their bodies adapt at a slower rate, leading to heat rash, cramps, exhaustion, renal disease, respiratory illness, stroke, and death. Natural disasters can also disrupt access to essential services and child protection systems.
COP28:
In a demonstration of global solidarity, negotiators from nearly 200 Parties came together in Dubai with a decision on the world’s first ‘global stocktake’ to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade -with the overarching aim to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Conference (COP28) closed with an agreement that signals the ‘beginning of the end’ of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance.
The COP28 also highlighted the urgency of addressing non-economic loss and damage (NELD) as a crucial part of climate action. Recognising that many impacts of climate change, such as cultural loss and health deterioration, cannot be measured purely in economic terms, COP28 underscored the importance of integrating NELD considerations into national and international climate policies (UNFCCC, 2024).
The debate is now moving toward the impact of climate change on human rights. It is crucial to acknowledge that as disaster risks increase, so does our exposure to non-economic losses and damages. Addressing these challenges is essential for the well-being and future of our communities. If we do not initiate the development of arid universities and institutes, we will face challenges such as people migrating due to extreme weather conditions, making it even more difficult to address human rights and create economic opportunities for them.
As António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, aptly states, “Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly.” Greta Thunberg’s call to action resonates with this need: “Our house is on fire. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis.” To prevent further escalation of climate impacts, we must take immediate and concrete actions to address both the environmental and social challenges posed by climate change.
The urgent establishment of Arid Universities in Sindh is a critical step towards enhancing climate adaptation and building resilience in the region. Establishing such institutions will not only help develop solutions to manage arid lands but also prepare the region to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Addressing climate change is essential for safeguarding human rights, health, and the future of our communities. Immediate and concrete actions are necessary to prevent further escalation of these issues and to create sustainable opportunities for all.
The writer is a development professional. She can be reached at quratmudasar@gmail.com
