IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTH ASIA ESPECIALLY IN PAKISTAN

*Shahid Raza, Saima Ahmad and Saima Hanif

ABSTRACT

Currently Climate Change is one of the most ignored, overlooked and ongoing manmade disaster. Climate change is no longer an issue for the distant future. It is already taking place in South Asian countries particularly the poorest people, are most at the risk. The impact of high temperature, more variable precipitation, more extreme weather events and sea level rise in South Asia will continue to intensify. These changes have major impacts on economic performances on South Asian countries. These impacts will exacerbate existing social and environmental problems leads to migration within and across the national borders. The high rates of population growth, and natural resource degradation, with continuing high rates of poverty and food insecurity make South Asia one of the most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change. In sum, climate change is not just an environmental issue but one with socioeconomic implications in South Asia. The unprecedented changes in environmental issues, caused by climate change, veritably broke all previous records of loss of life, property, infrastructure and livelihood. The effects of climate change relatively more pronounced in the country due to its over-reliance on the environment for basic survival, high population growth rate and density, low capacity to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and poverty. The poor use natural resources for their livelihoods without paying much attention to seen or unseen consequences, thus limiting their livelihood assets such as employment, health, education and access to water and other basic amenities of life.

Keywords: Currently Climate water and other basic amenities of life.