Climate Change Affecting Energy, Agriculture Sectors

Global warming and climate change are causing 60 percent water shortage, affecting energy and agriculture sectors in Pakistan

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 07th Nov, 2017 ) :Global warming and climate change are causing 60 percent water shortage, affecting energy and agriculture sectors in Pakistan. Talking to APP, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) country representative, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema said that climate change had been posing a serious threat to social, economic and ecological systems of the country, where a vast population still depends on predominantly agriculture-based rural economies.

He said that water shortage was also affecting energy sector. He said that according to a research report, an overwhelming majority, around 85 percent of farmers was observing changes in climatic conditions such as change in rainfall, monsoon onset and temperature.

Cheema said various studies showed that steadily rising temperatures were posing a serious threat to country's efforts for achieving sustainable food security and meeting food needs. Deputy Director Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) Muhammad Saleem Shaikh said that there was a dire need to adopt measures on war-footings to create awareness among the farming community about the impacts of climate change.

He said the ministry had directed provinces to take steps to cope with impacts of climate change particularly the agriculture and livestock sectors.

He added that agriculture was the backbone of Pakistan's economy and makes up 21% of the country's GDP along with employing 45% of the labour force.

Former senior director of World Wide Fund for Conservation of Nature (WWF) Dr Ijaz said that climate suitability of crops needs to be considered before planning cultivation to obtain optimum yields.

He said that farming community should be persuaded to use modern methods of cultivation in the areas which were prone to climate change, adding that increased application of biotechnology innovations could allow farming of carbon absorbing crops and seeds.

To a question, Dr Ijaz said that in Pakistan, meeting daily energy needs was dependent on water which was being affected due to water shortage. Noted environmentalist Mehmood Khalid Qamar said that deforestation was causing climate hazards.

He highlighted massive deforestation as the main cause of the global climate change and urged the government to initiate reforestation efforts on urgent basis. He said that despite all efforts no significant addition had been made in water supplies, which had adversely affected energy and agriculture sectors.