PAKISTAN is experiencing an unusual hot weather these days amidst predictions of stronger heatwaves than last year. The casualty will, of course, be the people’s economic well-being, particularly in rural areas, apart from the loss of human lives.

But Pakistan is not alone to suffer the nature’s onslaught. India is facing a similar situation and there had been record deaths. What has largely gone unnoticed in the media here is the harsh fact that the months of January, February and March had set new records globally, with both February (1.64°C) and March (1.58 °C) breaching the internationally agreed ‘safe-zone’ of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial times set in Paris conference on climate change last year, according to a report of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US.

The monthly global average temperature went up in the last two months approximately as much as it had in the last 35 years.

Investments at the local level in climate projects and adaptation and mitigation measures will offer vast business opportunities

So, the West has a scorching summer ahead with a major jump in average temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The big question is whether the earth system is being pushed to the point where the natural sources of carbon emissions will significantly increase. If so, then there is a cause for concern.

Pakistan, despite contributing too little, less than 1pc, to greenhouse gases still ranks second in the list of countries most affected by climate change, according to the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa).

But the nature makes no discrimination while delivering its wrath. The Sepa director stated last week that intensity of the problem could be judged from the fact that even the Sindh government has decided to spend an additional amount of Rs10bn on climate-induced health problems.

Temperature in Pakistan is higher than the global average because major part of the country is located in arid and semi-arid regions, which fall in the heat-surplus zone.

Meanwhile, Pakistan ratified the Paris Agreement last month and has thus joined the community of 171 countries who are signatory to it. Now the country is committed to implement the goals agreed in the December moot.

Apart from strengthening the country’s preparedness, the implementation of the schemes will also generate a series of economic activities. Investments at the local level in climate projects and adaptation and mitigation measures will offer vast business opportunities.

Some analysts are of the view that climate change is, in fact, an economic growth issue because the cost of economic development has now gone up sharply due to damage and disasters caused by the extreme weather events.

The government’s Vision 2025 aims at transforming the country into a middle-income country by increasing per capita income up to $8,160. But if global temperatures rise higher than two degrees Celsius it will be difficult for the country to cross the $6,526 threshold.

Pakistan, in such an eventuality, will have to look to the international community for financing of climate compatible development.

A report submitted recently to the National Assembly had described Pakistan being among the countries which are most vulnerable to the climate change but have a very low technical and financial capacity to meet its adverse impacts. Hence, an immediate task for the country is to adapt itself to the climate change.

The report pointed out that Pakistan has, collectively, suffered losses to the tune of $20bn due to adverse effects of climate change in the recent past. The assessment was carried out with the assistance of UN-Habitat, the Capital Development Authority and the ICT Administration.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government has decided to establish a separate department to regulate the affairs relating to coastal development. It will be called Climate Change, Environment and Coastal Development Department. Such a decision was overdue because sea intrusion in Sindh continues to devastate the ecology of the Indus delta and has not only rendered two coastal towns, Kharo Chan and Keti Bunder, almost extinct, but also destroyed fertile farmlands in Thatta and Badin districts.

During a recent briefing for the members of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, the government was warned that Badin and Thatta would drown by 2050 and Karachi by 2060 if immediate steps were not taken to address the deteriorating situation.

Sea-level rise and frequent threats of cyclones and tsunamis require Sindh to be ready with evacuation plans for its urban and rural coastal populations, particularly for cities like Karachi. The provincial government has meanwhile made elaborate arrangements to give immediate medical assistance to victims of heatwave.

Numerous relief camps have been set up in Karachi and other cities with the help of private firms. The World Bank estimates the environmental cost to Sindh could go as high as Rs372bn — more than 15pc of the provincial GDP — which will be a severe blow to its economy.

Published in Dawn, Business & Finance weekly, May 30th, 2016