Melting Glaciers – An alarming situation for survival; let’s halt the Extinction Crisis before it’s too late.
Pakistan is located in South Asia and is known for its rich biodiversity. To the north lies K2, the second largest mountain there, the Karakoram glaciers, and the upper basin of the Indus River. In the south, it borders the Arabian Sea, including the deep-water port of Gwadar. Due to this unique geographical region, Pakistan is very vulnerable to climate change. In fact, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is listed as the eighth most vulnerable country in the world, even though it is responsible for less than 1% of global fossil fuel by-products.
Pakistan is facing a persistent heat wave in the pre-season. This year, the temperature in some regions exceeded 50 ºC. In recent years, the average temperature has increased by 0.3 degrees Celsius every 10 years. This periodic increase is slightly higher than the global average of 33%, which increases by about 0.2 degrees per decade during a similar period. Later, the regression measurements showed that the temperature in Pakistan will increase by about 1.0 degrees Celsius by 2030 from 2000. Nevertheless, we found that precipitation does not show a predictable pattern.
The message we want to send by exploring these two dimensions of climate change in Pakistan is that we want to create and implement strong approaches to foster a sustainable future. Pakistan has more than 7,000 glaciers, more than any other country on Earth except the polar regions. However, climate change has accelerated their melting and created many glacial lakes. Glaciers in the north of the country provide more than 220 million Pakistanis with fresh water sources.
Thirty-three of these lakes, formed in the Himalayan Mountain range, the Karakoram Mountain range, or the Hindu Kush massif, threaten to trigger sudden and devastating floods, according to the authorities. This year there have been at least 16 cases of violent glacial lake outburst flooding (known in English as “Glacier Lake outburst flood”, Glof) due to rising temperatures. Damage is often so extensive that local communities find it difficult to recover from these catastrophes.
The accelerated melting of these glaciers is destroying this necessary support. Recent floods and droughts have killed and uprooted many, destroying frames, occupations, and livelihoods. Currently, measures including mass tree planting are considered as best option to control global warming effects. It is also recommended to stock water to take advantage of the country’s inconsistent, rapid, but terrible rains (especially during stormy seasons), this can help us in securing our land from a shortage of water. Acting now to ensure a sustainable future is a way to preserve the biodiversity in the biological system that exists in North and South Pakistan today.
