Heatwaves – Harbinger of Climate Crisis

Pakistan is no stranger to heatwaves and the resulting deadly floods that usually cause
countless deaths and widespread damage to millions of people every year. In the year
2022, one-third of the country suffered from flash floods and remained underwater but
what possibility of these disastrous situations still persists to the present day? The related
extent could be investigated by the ongoing global climate change crisis and heatwaves,
especially in Southeast Asia which experiences this harbinger of global climate change
phenomenon. Since the advent of the term climate change, heat waves (periods of warm
temperatures) have been informally associated with global warming, which is caused by
the massive output of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and as a consequence, our planet is
now like a burning pot.
According to the IPCC Report 2023, extreme weather is expected to become more often in
the future. Undoubtedly, temperatures are reaching 50 degrees Celsius in northern India
and Pakistan before the monsoon season. Despite this, Pakistan is not the only country in
the world facing catastrophic weather conditions, with Western Europe and Central and
Eastern China experiencing record-breaking heat waves and droughts that have led to
water restrictions. These heat waves and droughts have also led to crop shortages,
contributing to rising food prices around the world. Additionally, record-breaking heat
extremes were also recorded in Japan, Central America, and the United Kingdom, alike
Karachi, is in the grip of a deadly heatwave that has disrupted not only electricity and
water service but also made life nearly unbearable.
It is imperative to note that the early heatwave in May of this year was accompanied by
much below-average rainfall and humidity, resulting in a dry heatwave with temperatures
as high as 37 to 44 °C. Due to this, humidity had far less of a bearing on health effects than
heatwaves that occurred later in the season and in coastal areas. Nevertheless, heatstroke
deaths as well as infectious and respiratory diseases are reported, especially among older
people, children, those employed outdoors, and others who live in low-income
communities. If similar conditions persist in the coming months, officials estimate the
heatwave will affect many thousand Pakistanis.
In such circumstances, where the country is already suffering from economic recession, the
expected effects of climate change will plunge Pakistan into crisis and there is no time to
recover because Pakistan has not yet recovered from the devastation of back year’s
concurrent floods. Our agriculture sector is also badly affected as crops didn’t get suitable
temperature on their growth time and suffered from a reduction in yield which detriment
the net export and production of edibles However, it would take months to assess the
entire health and economic consequences, as well as any cascade impacts of the current or
future heat wave.

Like all disasters, Karachi’s heatwave is actually a consequence of an intricate mix of
natural and man-made factors. This emergency is the result of a perfect storm combined
with climatic, political and religious factors that have cut down vast areas of trees and
other vegetation covering roads and buildings, limiting shade and aggravating the urban
heat island effect. It is crucial to mitigate rising temperatures to prevent the loss of life and
livelihood. The risk of death can be decreased by developing an excessive heat tolerance
management plan. The Government of Pakistan has refined a Heat Action Plan that includes
early warning and action, messaging that can change behavior and raise awareness, as well
as supportive public services that can lower mortality. The nationwide rollout of these
measures has been impressive and now present in all significant cities and towns.
In fact, the Billion Tree Tsunami and several other sustainable practices projects were
started with plantation drives in several cities in Pakistan to prevent the deadly
consequences of heat waves, but due to our incompetence, individual uncertainty on these
measures often leads to the failure of these projects.
Meanwhile, as part of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, countries around the world make
new pledges to meet standards that help reduce the impact of heat and lower emissions by
developing new policies. It is a formal commitment by all stakeholders to reduce the
carbon output by achieving a net-zero emission target which would help in mitigating
heatwave rising, specifically in Southeast Asia whereas our working speed is not enough.
Global carbon emissions must be reduced by up to 40 percent by 2030 to avoid the worst
impacts of climate change. Therefore, now is the right time to opt for a collective approach,
where each and every member of the community can decarbonize electricity generation
through an equitable transition from fossil fuel-based production to renewable sources
such as wind and solar power. For this, urgent and concrete steps must be taken to
electrification of cars while maximizing energy efficacy in buildings, equipment, and
industry to protect people’s lives and livelihoods from such climatic shocks, especially
those who have to make even tougher decisions every day.
Link- https://www.nation.com.pk/25-May-2024/heatwaves-harbinger-of-climate-crisis