Greatest threat

Climate change is the greatest threat to our planet. Unregulated human activities have had devastating effects on the planet. Today, we have reached the point where the amount of greenhouse gasses in the air is more than what it ever was in three million years. These greenhouse gasses increase the temperature of our environment, resulting in rapid glacier melting all over the world. Pakistan is also witnessing climate change-induced destruction and devastation. Even though it contributes less than one percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, it is most likely to be affected by global warming. Southern Pakistan, especially Sindh, has been facing heatwaves for many years. Floods have not only displaced about 20 million people and their properties but also affected the Indus River basin by heavy monsoon rains. Coastal areas of Karachi, Badin and Thatta have also been threatened because of rising sea levels. The major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Pakistan are the energy and agriculture sectors. In Pakistan, various initiatives like the Clean and Green Pakistan and Billion Tree Tsunami programmes and the Mangroves for the Future (MFF) program are underway to deal with deforestation to promote sustainable forest management across the country.

For the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, many companies and institutes host a green drive every month where they plant trees in their vicinity. Planting more trees is the most natural solution to the growing environmental threats to our planet. The new regulations set by certain governments force car manufacturers to design cars that pass their carbon emission requirements. Those models are then sold across the globe benefitting everyone. Nowadays we do not see cars with smoke coming out of their tailpipes; this was not a regular feature until a decade ago. Factories are not being set up in the vicinity of residential areas. The authorities are establishing smoke-emitting factories in the outskirts of cities to provide cleaner air to people to breathe. Greenhouse gas emissions do not only contribute to climate change, but are also responsible for causing many respiratory issues. Centuries of ignorance have brought us to a point where we cannot avoid it anymore, and it will take several decades to fix it – if we act now.

Aqsa Soomro

Hyderabad