By Devastating floods in Pakistan have affected almost 33 million people and killed more than 1,000, prompting an international response from the International Rescue Committee (IRC). As of mid-June, the monsoons have already wiped out about half a million dwellings and damaged another half a million. With even more Monsoon rains and severe flooding expected in the following weeks, the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have recorded 784% and 500% more precipitation than typical, respectively. The International Rescue Committee fears that food insecurity will rise sharply and the economy will suffer as a result of the destruction of more than 4 million acres of crops and the deaths of around 800,000 cattle.
Mashion has sat down with Shabnum Baloch, the national director of the IRC to discuss the impact that climate change is having on our country, as well as the world, and what we must do to make it better.
How can we do better as individuals to combat climate change?
We can do a lot as an individual because climate change is a lifestyle. They are a result of our daily choices. Our consumer lifestyle contributes a lot to climate change!
How can Pakistan tackle the situation if climate change worsens?
There are some long-term strategies, like introducing foreign climate resilience policies and programs in Pakistan. The most affected is our agricultural sector, so it’s important to introduce farming strategies that are sustainable and don’t harm the environment.
Realistically, how much time do we have to stop climate change?
Realistically, we really don’t have any time! We have to start acting now, i.e., this hour, this minute, this second. Otherwise, we won’t be able to stop climate change.
What happens if we do nothing to stop climate change?
If we do nothing, the extreme weather events that are happening now will have a major effect on our food, health and existence.
How is climate change affecting farms and our food supply?
There is a value chain in the global food system, and each segment of the value chain is being disrupted and affected because of climate change, like extreme weather events like floods and droughts. The tropical pattern is basically being disturbed.
Is it corporations that are causing climate change, or individuals too?
It isn’t just corporations, because their global CO2 contribution is 24%, and the global individual consumerism contribution is about 64%. We use whatever corporations manufacture, so if we change our individual choices, we can make this equation better.
If we start acting now, is there actually hope? Or is that something people just say?
Yes, absolutely! There is hope if you start acting now, but we need to start immediately, or there won’t be any hope soon enough.
Which other countries are most at risk of the impact of climate change?
India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Bangladesh, are at risk along with Pakistan, to name a few. The countries that are dependent on agriculture, and that have a large population are most at risk.
What do you think?
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