In an interactive session of the course Natural Resources and Environment Economics, we have seen some important aspects of Environmental Risks and Challenges being faced by world in a movie by Al Gore "An inconvenient Truth".The main issues which came into limelight includes the emission of GHG (Green House Gases), Global Warming, Climate Change, CO2 Emission and Kyoto Protocol. Most of us are familiar with the terms but I am here describing them in context of Pakistan:
GHG Green Houses Gases:
These are the gases including the water vapors, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane and nitrous oxide present in the atmosphere. This is mostly related to the green house effect. Green house effect means that energy from the sun in the source of solar rays (Heat Energy) come onto the surface of the Earth and is mostly absorbed by our Earth. In normal practice, the most of the energy should be or must be emitted back to the atmosphere especially its layer Mesosphere. Instead of this, the heat rays keep present in the troposphere where we live or which is the lowest layer of atmosphere. As a result most of the heat is absorbed by our Earth surface resulting in lessen the amount of moisture on the surface of the Earth and brining extremely high temperature for the Earth. Pakistan contributes to the 0.4% of GHG emission of th world having a ranking at 135th. Although it is quite low Inspite of the fact in the recent floods of June 2010 the country receive all its rainfall of the monsoon season 300mm in 36 Hours period, all due to the GHG and Global Warming.
Global Warming:
This is the increase of temperature of Earth Surface. According to Ministry of Environment, the climate related damages and cost faced by Pakistan due to disasters which have its grass roots in Global Warming are estimated to $4billion. On the other hands, if we touch the Economical point of view, Global Warming has also reduced our per acre yield or rice, wheat and cotton also. Global Warming has also resulted into cyclones also. There has always remained a threat for Pakistan Coastal Areas including the Sindh and Balochistan. One must ponder how Global Warming has effect on Cyclones. It is simple but complicated question. When the temperature of oceans increased say it is more than 30 degree Celsius (we are discussing high temperature only due to Global Warming) then the air from the ocean rises above the surface of the ocean and as result creating lower pressure of gases on the surface of ocean. The air from the surrounding has a higher pressure. The process of diffusion takes place and the air currents from the higher pressure to lower pressure move and this cycles continues and as a result cyclones are produce.
Climate Change:
Any change in the climate due to the human activity is called climate change. The term Climate Change is roughly used while discussing GHG, Ozone Layer Depletion e.t.c. Ozone Layer depletion here means that the depletion / breakage of Ozone Layer which is present in layer of atmosphere after troposphere called stratosphere. Ozone layer served as a protection of Ultra Violet rays, damaging heat rays from the sun into the Earth. Due to human activity the tendency of protection is decreasing day by day brining in Climate Change and many other problems.
CO2 Emissions:
CO2 emissions means the storage and emission of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere general through carbon cycle which is a natural cycles. But due to climate change this CO2 cycle is disturbed. Pakistan contributes towards the 1.92 tones of Per Capita Emission of CO2 as per UNDP.
Conclusion:
Dear Blog users, have you ever noticed that cloudy nights are warmer than normal nights. The main reason is that clouds prevent the the radiation of heat from land and air. In this way the temperature is usually warmer. Just imagine, that due to human beings activities we have disturbed everything and as result we have brought the clouds of disaster on our atmosphere which are making our Earth Surface warmer and warmest.
Let us discuss and make a list of Risks and Challenges for Pakistan due to the above mention issues:
1. Floods
2. Cyclones
3. Droughts
4. Radioactive Health Hazards
5. Agriculture and Land Problems
6. Deforestation Problems
Well done. You are getting the pace
ReplyDeleteMohib Baloch,you have comprehensively covered the whole subject in its true sense,for which you deserve sh abash.To add to what you have said,we the developing nations contribute less to the global warming as compared to developed nations,obviously due to industrialization and generation of hazardous gases.The area where we should excell is forestation and adherence and implementation of environmental protection rules.We the developing nations should also stress upon the modern nations to curtail their activities ,which indir or dir adds to global warming.
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