he Earth has everything, but we can’t keep taking without giving back.” Gary Snyder, American poet and environmental activist

The observation is relevant to Sindh and Pakistan. The country has witnessed some tough climate change challenges in recent times. Sindh, in particular, has borne the brunt of catastrophe in terms of loss of lives, property and infrastructure. According to a World Bank report, water scarcity is a critical concern as more than 60 per cent of the population lacks access to safe drinking water. Pollution from industrial waste, agricultural runoff and inadequate sanitation systems further threaten Sindh’s environment and public health. According to Earth Org, the impact of climate change is also keenly felt in Sindh, with increased frequency and intensity of floods and droughts jeopardising agricultural productivity and displacing communities. Numerous environmental challenges threaten its sustainable development, public health systems, and biodiversity.

Recent data indicates that water availability in the country has decreased by more than 80 per cent in 70 years. Per capita water availability fell from approximately 5,260 cubic metrss in 1951 to around 908 cubic metres in 2022, well below the threshold of 1,000 cubic metres, which defines a country as water-scarce.

Sindh’s extensive arid regions suffer from severe water scarcity. This affects agriculture, livelihoods and aquatic ecosystems. According to recent data from Global Forest Watch, Pakistan faces alarming rates of land degradation and deforestation, losing approximately 27,000 hectares of forest annually. Between 2001 and 2020, the country lost around 9,684 hectares of tree cover. This rapid deforestation significantly threatens environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts.

This land degradation, particularly in Sindh, contributes to desertification, soil erosion and habitat loss, jeopardising food security, ecosystem health and the survival of numerous plant and animal species.

Besides, unmanaged waste is a major concern in Sindh’s cities. Karachi generates between 14,000 and 16,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily. The volume is expected to increase further due to ongoing urbaniaation and population growth. Poor waste management disrupts natural habitats, poses health risks to wildlife and disrupts the ecological balance.

All Pakistan’s cities have poor air quality indices. Air pollution not only harms human health but also disrupts ecosystems. Pollutants can reduce plant growth, harm wildlife, and disrupt food chains. Sindh is a crucial stopover for migratory birds travelling between Europe and Asia. Climate change is disrupting these migration patterns. Rising temperatures and erratic weather are causing species like the Siberian crane and the common teal to arrive earlier/ later than usual, or bypass the region entirely. This disruption affects local ecosystems, impacting food webs and biodiversity.

Several studies have documented significant shifts in bird migration patterns due to climate change. Some birds are arriving several weeks earlier than historically observed. This change can lead to mismatches in food availability and breeding times, exacerbating the ecological impact.

The environmental challenges pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s economic and development threshold.

Pakistan can address some of its environmental challenges, including water security, by reviving healthy forests and wetlands to act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and regulating water flow. A focus on enhanced biodiversity can help ecosystems thrive and provide habitat for a variety of plant and animal life.

Climate change mitigation through forests restoration can have a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ecosystem restoration can contribute to mitigating climate change impacts.

The Sindh government has implemented numerous projects aimed at sustainable development and environmental conservation.

One of the key efforts is the Green Sindh programme, which focuses on afforestation and the creation of urban green spaces. This initiative aims to combat deforestation, improve air quality and enhance the urban environment. The government has also encouraged renewable energy projects, particularly in wind and solar power, to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.

Sindh Environmental Protection Authority is the primary regulatory body for environmental protection in the province. It leads in formulating and enforcing environmental regulations, adapting them to address emerging concerns. Through diligent monitoring aligned with SEQS 2016 standards, the SEPA assesses air, water, and soil quality, identifying risks and prioritising interventions. Moreover, it evaluates and approves development projects, ensuring compliance with environmental standards to foster sustainable development. Engaging the public through educational initiatives and its interactive website, the SEPA promotes environmental awareness and facilitates dialogue on critical issues.

WB projects

The government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has implemented the Sindh Irrigated Agriculture Productivity Enhancement Project to empower women in agriculture and promote water conservation at the household level. The project has lined 6,000 water courses to reduce seepage losses, equipping 12,000 acres with drip irrigation systems for efficient water use, distributing 16,000 drip irrigation kits to rural women for kitchen gardens, promoting water-saving practices at the household level and providing 1,700 units of land laser leveling equipment to farmers, enabling them to optimise water use on their fields. The Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project is currently building on this success with similar interventions focused on water conservation.

The Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Project is another World Bank-funded initiative overseen by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board. It focuses on developing essential waste management infrastructure like landfills and transfer stations, improving waste collection and transportation services and promoting public awareness about waste reduction and segregation.

Demonstrating its commitment to knowledge sharing and capacity building, the World Bank recently organised a high-level forum on environmental and social safeguards. This forum brought together representatives from all 55 Project Implementation Units across Pakistan as well as officials from the federal government and relevant departments. The forum highlighted the World Bank’s policies for environmental and social safeguards, including gender considerations.

Climate change

challenges

The government’s current focus on integrated water resource management is commendable. Enhanced focus on mangrove restoration projects can help protect coastlines from erosion, promote biodiversity and improve water quality. The Ibrahim Hyderi coastal area in Karachi has been chosen for a desalination plant. Initially, the plant will produce 2 million gallons of desalinated water daily. Its capacity will later be scaled up to 5 MGD. The Sindh government is investing Rs 427.6 million to construct a reverse osmosis plant near Manora Beach to desalinate seawater for around 200,000 residents of the area.

It will also initiate rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse for irrigation and gardening.

Awareness campaigns for encouraging public participation in water conservation can lead to a significant reduction in water consumption. Community engagement programs can empower citizens to take ownership of water conservation efforts in their neighborhoods.

The role of the Project Coordination Management Unit can be strengthened to streamlining environmental approvals. Empowering the PCMU can significantly improve efficiency. This could reduce the administrative burden on project developers and ensure timely environmental clearances. At the same time strengthening compliance monitoring by the PCMU will allow for consistent enforcement of environmental regulations and early identification and rectification of any environmental concerns.

Standardising environmental documentation is also essential. The PCMU can help other organisations develop standardised templates for environmental documents based on World Bank and EPA guidelines.

Rapid population growth, urbanisation and economic development in Sindh have led to a notable increase in waste generation. Karachi, the largest city in the province, generates 12,000-16,000 metric tonnes of waste daily. There are opportunities for improvement through enhanced waste collection, recycling initiatives and waste-to-energy projects.

Addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts and innovative solutions to mitigate environmental and health hazards while promoting sustainable practices.

The author is a gender expert and a development professional. She can be reached at email: sanakhanzada4@gmail. com and at X SanaSRahimoo