Climate change increases the vulnerability of poor communities in Pakistan According to a new study published by Oxfam Great Britain, climate change, along with local environment degradation, is pushing vulnerable farming and fishing communities in Pakistan towards increased poverty and suffering.
According to a press release issued here Wednesday, the community-based research: ‘Climate Change, Poverty and Environmental Crisis in the Disaster Prone Areas of Pakistan’ was conducted in three provinces in Pakistan.
The findings reveal that the inhabitants of all these three areas are not only aware that climate is changing, but they are also acutely perceptive about the adverse impacts it has on their lives and livelihoods.
“30 years ago, the sea was roughly 25 kilometres away from our village. Over the years it has shifted nearer and nearer and is now only about five kilometres away, said a resident of Bhugra Memon, in district Badin.
“A decade ago, we used to have six months long winters and six months long summers. Now the summers lasts for nine-months and winters for three-months,” said a resident of Rajanpur district in Punjab.
The study highlights the strong correlation between the findings from the community surveys and the climate trends and predictions done by climate scientists. This study also highlights how changing climate along with depletion of natural resources is rapidly aggravating the risk to the life and livelihood of the communities that are mostly dependent on natural resources for their survival.
Adaptation to climate change is urgently needed to help people secure their lives and livelihoods, the study concludes.
Developing new agriculture, water resource and rangeland management systems; and upgrading the fishing practices are among the key important adaptation techniques proposed in the study. It also recommends further developing technologies for water recycling and disaster risk reduction programs. People-centred resilience should underpin all these activities and help farmers and fishermen to achieve food security and to adapt to climate change.
“This report demonstrates clearly how climate change is already affecting the most vulnerable people of the developing nations”, said Neva Khan, Oxfam GB Country Director for Pakistan. “It is important that rich countries commit sufficient resources to support adaptation. A fair and adequate climate deal next month in Copenhagen summit is a must,” said Khan.