Islamabad - A study on Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment has revealed that the federal capital and its surrounding areas are exposed to a host of factors accelerating climate change impacts.
The study, conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the UN Habitat, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, said, “The territory is exposed to a host of factors accelerating climate change impacts, such as erratic behaviour and marked changes in the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation, floods, droughts, cyclones etc.”
According to the analysis, the extreme weather events recorded so far in Islamabad included the highest maximum temperature of 46.6 centigrade on June 24, 2005 and the lowest at minus 4.3 centigrade on December 25, 1984. In 2001, the heaviest rainfall of 621 mm was recorded in 10 hours.
The main findings of the assessment revealed startling facts regarding like erratic behaviour and marked changes in the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation, floods, draughts and cyclones. The study proposed a well thought-out planning interventions to make Islamabad a climate resilient city.
The study recommended to utilise the present institutional arrangements for a well-coordinated effective implementation of suggested plans in Islamabad. It suggested an immediate need for the climate-smart planning by the city authorities, and to devise an effective solid waste management strategy in urban and rural areas, besides preventing water wastage.
The study recommended bio-engineering for recycle and re-use of grey water for enhancing climate change resilience in urban areas.
It underlined the need for promoting rainwater harvesting and ecosystem management, besides conducting a study of carbon sequestration in Margalla Hills National Park. The report recommended energy conservation of buildings, tube-wells, in industrial sector, energy transmission system and transport sector. It stressed a streamlined planning at the federal, district and local levels, and certification and registration of real-estate developers and enforcement of building codes.
The study underlined the need for supporting the development of public-private partnerships, adding that an eco-system based adaptation and management was must for Islamabad. The report suggested appropriate measures to reduce pollution from brick kilns and adapting effective strategy in the healthcare sector.
It also drew attention of the quarters concerned for taking preventing measures to avoid flash-floods. The report strongly recommended to create awareness among the public about climate change impacts through educational institutions and other stakeholders for improving surrounding environment.
Meanwhile, Federal Climate Change Secretary, Syed Aba Ahead Akin emphasised upon the youths to help actively creating awareness about the preservation of environment from the damages of current abnormal seasonal changes in the country.
Talking to a state-run television channel on the occasion of World Environment Day yesterday, he said that the public should come of their houses for the preservation of the environment and should address problems such as water pollution in the factories and to avoid animals’ death in the rural factories added that the sugar mills should not throw their garbage in the ponds and rivers as it is very harmful for humanity.
He said the United Nation (UN) and many other organizations are playing vital role in the preservation of the environment around the world. He said the gradual changes in the temperature had brought many unexpected damages in the environment which had caused erosion of the land , unexpected rains spell which had damaged the crops added that frequent earthquakes, floods , tsunami are also alarming in this regard . He said in 1998 the Pakistan Environment Act (PEPA) was introduced in Pakistan along with other hard laws that had been formulated for cleanliness drive purpose in the rural as well as urban areas.
Another speaker, Chairman Board of Secondary Education, Karachi, Prof Anwaar Ahmadzai said on the occasion that this day should not be specific on 5 June only but every day should be the environment day and we should keep ourselves aware of the importance of the environment which surround us. He said environment at home and outside is correlated so we should help keep it clean at all cost besides our religion teaches us cleanliness also, he added.