Pakistan has a variety of Landscapes, and with them comes diverse climate challenges. This particular region has witnessed severe repercussion of environmental degradation. This country is blessed with mountain ranges, fertile lands, deserts, forests and plain lands, and to cope up with multi-faceted climate problems, it is not possible to adopt a single climate policy, as climate challenges vary from region to region. The intensity of issue can be determined by reports from the World Bank, claiming that climate change will become a grave concern for people of Pakistan by 2030, as it will enhance in severity with time and climate-induced disasters will become more common. The recent development in Balochistan Climate Change Policy is a noticeable step towards restoring environment and promises a bright future for the province, as it focuses on the pin points of this region.
Balochistan itself has a diversity of terrains, ranging from hot desserts to green oasis. The province faces unique challenges that require tailored climate change policies. The Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) collaborated with Ministry of Climate Change (MOCC) and Environmental Protection Agency, Balochistan (EPA) to conduct workshops and formulate comprehensive policy recommendations and implementation framework.
The recommendations for this policy focus upon enhancing adaptative capacity and resilience across various sectors in Balochistan. There is a stress upon shifting towards renewable energy sources. People of the province heavily rely upon biomass and fossil fuels, despite having a surplus of wind and solar energy. Developing local energy projects pivot upon wind and solar energy can aid in achieving this goal. Agriculture and livestock are the primary source of income for Balochi people, the policy recommendation suggests promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A unique addition to the framework was “Diversifying crops” as it will help to combat food insecurity of Balochistan. More than 58% of land in Balochistan is uncultivable due to water scarcity, and roughly around 75% of people are deprived of safe drinking water. Under such harsh conditions, effective water management is crucial. Integrated water resource management (IWRM) must be implemented to ensure optimum water usage and how to improve efficiency in agricultural outputs. Balochistan is vulnerable to climate associated health risks due to lack of resources and eminent inflation rates. This key point is highlighted in the policy to improve healthcare and services, especially areas in the outskirts of province. Strengthening healthcare service and providing essential infrastructure is vital to fight against the health impacts of climate change. Establishing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies prior to a catastrophe will ensure reduced damage and enhanced resilience.
The policy framework seems flawless, and exceptionally touched multiple sectors, but the crux does not lie in the significance of the policy, rather effective implementation in the whole province. Without implementation, the policy loses its worth. There are countless challenges that might hinder the effectiveness of this policy is the region, and the miss calculation might compromise outcome. Limited infrastructure, be it in health department or energy sector, can give heavy blows to this policy. Balochistan is gripped firmly by economical constraints, financial dependency and depleting resources might cause deflection of resources from climate to other sectors, as mitigation and adaptation to climate disasters is additional burden on treasury.
The agriculture sector, bread and butter of 67% of population is at a great risk. Over half of the irrigation is dependent on rain water, changes in weather patterns can further damage economy. Literacy of people is another concern, as most of the population is deprived of education and lacks clear understanding of Climate change. It is a dire need to launch campaigns at a massive scale to increase basic understanding of the silent enemy. This will not only create an ease to combat climate issues, but will develop resilience too. Institutional capacity of Balochistan is negative, added with weak governance system this policy might meet its fate in closed drawers.
No policy can appease everyone, and leaves room for recommendations and suggestions. This policy framework lacks “specific and measurable targets” for reducing greenhouse gases emission and promotion of green energy. Absence of concrete targets results in unachieved outputs, and none can be blamed as there are no fixed deliverables. This policy also ignores the most vulnerable communities, there must be special initiatives and programs to back under privileged masses and communities affected by climate change. The question of financing still remains unanswered, and for country like Pakistan, it is a tough question. The root causes of climate change could have been elaborated extensively, as better knowing equals better handling of the issue.
Overall, this is a great step towards a healthy environment. It is a peace of mind to see climate under discussion and being at the policy tables. Addressing climate change is crucial for sustainable development and resilience. Balochistan climate framework provides a comprehensive outlook on the matter. By prioritizing sustainable practices, engaging local communities and stakeholders, Balochistan can make its way out of climate challenges.
The writer is a student of “Government and Public Policy” at National Defence University
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