Climate Change Cost Pakistan $3.5 Billion in 18 Years

Climate change in South Asia has impacted on Pakistan a loss of around $3.57 billion over the past 18 years, according to a World Bank report. The report alarms Pakistan of the existence of five major risks related to climate change/global warming and potentially risking half of the country’s population.

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The report, released on Tuesday (December 08, 2009), warns of disasters in five main areas: rise in sea level, glacial retreat, floods, higher average temperatures, and high frequency of droughts. Around 23% of the country’s land and nearly 50% of the entire population is vulnerable to the damage resulting from these potential disasters. To stop an increase in harmful carbon emissions that contribute to climatic disasters, Pakistan and other South Asian countries need to formulate and implement clean technology policies and turn to environment-friendly energy resources.

Pakistan has huge reserves of coal that are used for running several industries on local scale in many areas. But emissions from coal persistently threaten the atmosphere with emissions that lead to escalating the greenhouse effect. The World Bank report mentions the Bank’s interest in developing hydropower capacity in Pakistan and Nepal. Also, it is suggested to import natural gas from the Middle East for industrial use instead of using coal, in order to protect the country from climate-related disaster.