Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, climate change is no longer just an environmental issue, it is a public health emergency. Communities across Pakistan and around the world are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change on human health, from the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and dengue fever, to the increasing prevalence of mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety caused by disruptions to daily life, to food insecurity, caused by extreme weather events destroying crops and livestock.
Pakistan is facing climate change-driven effects like worsening heatwaves. These are becoming more frequent and severe, leading to a rise in heatstroke cases and fatalities. In such temperatures, prolonged exposure can be lethal. Vulnerable groups, like the elderly, children, and outdoor workers, are particularly at risk.
Climate change presents serious challenges to the health of Pakistan’s people. Changing weather patterns, increased humidity, and flooding create ideal conditions for the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya. Similarly, floods can contaminate drinking water sources, causing outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and diarrheal diseases. Unpredictable rainfall and long droughts disrupt agriculture and reduce crop yields, creating food and water insecurities. This is especially true for families in rural and arid regions like Tharparkar, which face malnutrition and hunger. Water scarcity, exacerbated by declining groundwater levels and pollution, can limit access to safe drinking water and sanitation, increasing the risk of illness.
Climate change also worsens air pollution, contributing to rising rates of asthma, chronic lung disease, and heart problems. Wildfires and dust storms are intensified by changing climate patterns and can fill the air with harmful particles that are dangerous to breathe, especially for children.
What can you do to help with climate change? I recently looked at how climate change negatively affects mental health. In addition to affecting physical health, climate change also has an impact on our mental and emotional well-being. Disasters such as floods, droughts, or displacement can lead to anxiety, depression, and trauma. The loss of livelihoods due to crop failure or disaster damage adds financial stress and long-term insecurity. We must integrate climate adaptation into our national health strategies. Investment in public health infrastructure, clean water access, early warning systems, and education can help reduce these risks. Let’s make the public aware of how to adapt to changing environments and protect themselves. Climate change is no longer a threat; it’s a reality with a tangible impact.
We already see the effects extreme weather, rising sea levels, and shifting ecosystems throughout the world, especially in vulnerable countries like Pakistan. Adaptation helps us cope with these changes, but mitigation is about preventing them from getting worse. We must reduce the root causes, specifically greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) are released into the atmosphere via fossil fuel combustion, agriculture, industrial activities, and deforestation. One of the major contributors to the release of greenhouse gases is the burning of fossil fuels. Many industrial and agricultural processes, as well as the transportation sector, rely heavily on fossil fuels. Therefore, we must commit to phasing out the use of coal, oil, and gas and replacing them with clean energy sources. Solar, wind, and hydropower are among the most readily available clean energy sources. However, this shift cannot occur overnight. We will need to invest in renewable energy infrastructure.
Once we are able to use renewable energy sources to power many of our facilities, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In addition to reducing our fossil fuel use, we can improve energy efficiency in our buildings, factories, and vehicles. Replacing incandescent bulbs with LED lights will decrease energy costs while saving the environment.
Insulating our homes and workplaces will also reduce our carbon footprint, and save us money on energy bills. Promoting public transport and electric vehicles is also crucial in our fight against carbon emissions. Carpooling can reduce the total number of vehicles on the road, and encouraging people to use buses and trains reduces traffic congestion and emissions. Shifting to electric vehicles will help reduce tailpipe emissions and lower air pollution. In addition, waste reduction and management techniques, such as recycling and composting, are also vital measures to combat these emissions.
Reducing plastic waste can limit the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, where it breaks down into harmful greenhouse gases. Finally, climate-smart agriculture is a crucial component to climate change mitigation. Shifting to organic fertilizers and managing livestock emissions will help reduce the agricultural sector’s carbon footprint. These are just a few of the many things we can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By working together, we can protect our environment and future generations.
