Climate change awareness and adaptation by local planning in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Climate change is a serious threat to the security and prosperity of the world in the twenty first century. Although it is inherently a global problem, its impacts will be felt unequally across the planet. Climate change impacts are likely to be felt more severely in developing countries like Pakistan. Pakistan is a resource poor country with a very high and fast growing population, very low natural resource base and peculiar unfavourable socio-cultural conditions. Pakistan's agriculture-based economy and its power generation are heavily reliant on waters that flow from Himalayan glaciers whose future due to climate change is uncertain. Being an arid country there has always been shortage of water in Pakistan for agriculture, urban and industrial uses. Climate change is an additional stress for Pakistan as it threatens the country's water resources. Formulating and implementing effective climate change adaptation strategies is critical for Pakistan. Awareness raising is one of the most effective means to adaptation that addresses the present and future impacts of climate change. This thesis reviewed climate change impacts and their consequences in Pakistan. The thesis argues that climate change will put severe pressure on Pakistan's natural resources and environment. The thesis uses the idea of environmental awareness to explore the factors that shape people's understanding of the environment, including climate change. The study of environmental awareness factors is helpful in identifying barriers to environmental awareness policy and strategy. This thesis also reviewed the environmental awareness and adaptation theory and practice at local level in developing countries and in Pakistan. It argues that local planning officials in Pakistan can play an important role in increasing climate change awareness and adaptation practices. In this research face-to-face interviews were conducted with local government officials and environmental experts in Lahore Pakistan. Descriptive analysis of working and institutional awareness of climate change impacts among those officials is examined in this thesis. In addition 150 Union Council local officials in Lahore were surveyed. The survey explores the level of awareness of climate change, its causes and impacts among the surveyed officials. The survey and subsequent analysis also focuses on the potential role of use of GIS in raising climate change awareness. This thesis reveals that climate change awareness is at alarmingly low level in local government setup in Pakistan. The thesis also reveals that local officials in Union Councils have low level of education and are poorly trained. These officials are unaware of Himalayan Glaciers melting away due to climate change. This thesis demonstrates that local officials are largely unaware of the use of GIS and its importance in planning field. They believe, when prompted, that GIS prepared climate change maps can be helpful in raising climate change awareness among public. This research provides detailed findings on the climate change area in local governments of Pakistan and recommends policy measures to improve the climate change awareness for better adaptation.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	English