The intense weather patterns would only deteriorate in the forthcoming years, as global temperatures kept increasing and sea levels continued to accelerate. For ten years extreme heat waves were seen in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Russia; a drought beset the Amazon River basin; and heavy snowstorms swept across North America. In Pakistan, powerful floods caused by heavy rainfall led to above 2,000 deaths, while millions of others were uprooted. They were forced into becoming climate change refugees, as their homes and livelihoods were rushed away by the waters. In 2019, hurricanes struck the island of Puerto Rico; Europe suffered two dastardly heatwaves; and cyclones destroyed the Bahamas and Japan. In the meantime thousands of fires spread the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and bordering Bolivia in August. Pitiless bush fires first inflamed in November continue to surge in Australia. In the latest position on the Climate Global Risk Index, Pakistan is eighth among the countries most influenced by climate change between 2000 and 2019.The loss of forest cover deteriorates the effects of climate change, opening the door to floorings and soil waste, accordingly lessening crop yields, destroying local economies and disturbing food supply designs on a larger scale. Pakistan has merely 5.7 percent forest cover as against the recommended 25 percent. Midway 0.2 and 0.5 percent, Pakistan has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world and the second highest in the region after Afghanistan. Increasing urbanization, industrialization, and accelerating population and an affluent powerful, politically well-linked timber mafia form a deadly combination that is emptying the land of its valued forest cover.
The government initiated the Billion Tree Tsunami project in response to global warming soon after coming to power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2013. That green drive, which the government claimed in 2019 had given to a 6.3 percent increase in the country’s forest cover, was followed by the even more inspiring 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. These efforts have brought into increase concentration green worries that were earlier largely overlooked by political parties in this country. The priorities were really needed and have been mostly appreciated in a world racing to meet the challenge countered by climate change. Other leaders have started identical campaigns and the World Economic Forum has launched the One Trillion Trees drive. The huge scale of the tree plantation project has, given rise to queries as to its strength and feasibility. Past year, NAB approved four investigations into the provincial-level Billion Tree Tsunami project on complaint of misuse of authority, absence of survival of plants, fraud of funds, etc. Experts say out that the timber mafia has managed to continue its unlawful work un-interrupted owing the execution of the law is slack and the faction connected with the scandal are very much powerful. Pakistan needs to take the problem of climate change with the earnestness it deserves and take serious action. In a huge climate action walk on September 20, 2019 that brought together number of people comprising students and teachers from the educational institution , bureaucrats NGOs and civil society members the Green Lobby Society of the University of Peshawar had asked the government to declare a climate emergency. Many others around the world, above 11,000 scientists in 153 countries declared a climate emergency. Further, the UK, Canada, France, Ireland, and New Zealand have formally declared climate emergencies. Pakistan’s parliament has very soon to declare a climate emergency to concentrate on solving climate change.
Climate change is a huge menace to Pakistan as acknowledge in the world; there is no real need and reason to delay this declaration. Pakistan’s national legislature is, once again, strongly requested to pass a motion and declare a climate emergency in the country. To go ahead the direction and firmly support on this issue, the Environment Society at the University of Peshawar has started the Pakistan Climate Emergency Movement. It also suggests a clear guideline that begins with how to prepare the declaration. The significant features of the declaration should be the proof; the model; execution so far; the declaration; the next actions that need to be taken; extent and activities; support ; and local issues. This declaration will be a representative step to raise pressure for action to control climate change and will be recognized of crisis that Pakistan is facing.
The declaration should be developed on science. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is the known scientific body in the world on climate science, has determined that we should take action to protect a disturbing situation of a 1.5°C expansion in the mean global temperature by 2100. With the present rate of carbon emissions, we are on the way to a 3°C warmer world in 2100 according to the current Emissions Gap Report 2020 of the United Nations Environment Programme. We need to reach net zero carbon emissions sooner than what has already been planned. Recently, the World Meteorological Organization released its 2020 annual climate report, as stated to which the mean global temperature is established to be about 1.2 °C above pre-industrial levels. It also states that 2020 was one of the three warmest years on record after 2016 and 2019. It is entirely necessary to act with seriousness. The declaration of a climate emergency will be in step with the 2015 Paris Agreement, which Pakistan has already signed in 2016. The agreement says for the lessening of greenhouse gas emissions and Pakistan had announced its pledge to reduce its forecasted GHG emissions for 2030 by up to 20 percent with the assistance of international financial support. Pakistan’s government needs to show through execution and take a leadership position in climate change lessening and adjustment. The private sector and civil society should also join .