ISLAMABAD: A fresh study on climate change vulnerability assessment has revealed that the federal capital and its surrounding areas are exposed to a host of factors accelerating climate change impacts.
“The territory is exposed to a host of factors accelerating climate change impacts, such as erratic behaviour and marked changes in the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation, floods, droughts and cyclones,” according to the study, conducted by the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the UN Habitat, the Capital Development Authority and the Islamabad administration.
According to the analysis, the extreme weather events recorded so far in Islamabad included the highest maximum temperature of 46.6 degree centigrade on June 24, 2005 and the lowest at 4.3 degree centigrade on December 25, 1984. In 2001, the heaviest rainfall of 621mm was recorded in 10 hours.
The study proposed well-planned interventions to make Islamabad a climate resilient city. The study recommended to utilize the present institutional arrangements for a well-coordinated effective implementation of suggested plans in the capital. It suggested an immediate need for the climate-smart planning by the city authorities, and to devise an effective solid waste management strategy in urban and rural areas, besides preventing water wastage.
The study recommended bio-engineering for recycle and re-use of grey water for enhancing climate change resilience in urban areas. It underlined the need for promoting rainwater harvesting and ecosystem management, besides conducting a study of carbon sequestration in Margalla Hills National Park. The report recommended energy conservation of buildings, tube-wells, in industrial sector, energy transmission system and transport sector.
It stressed a streamlined planning at the federal, professional, district and local levels, and certification and registration of real-estate developers and enforcement of building codes. The study underlined the need for supporting the development of public-private partnerships, adding that an eco-system based adaptation and management was must for Islamabad.
The report suggested appropriate measures to reduce pollution from brick kilns and adapting effective strategy in the healthcare sector. It also drew attention of the quarters concerned for taking preventing measures to avoid flash-floods. The report strongly recommended to create awareness among the public about climate change impacts through educational institutions and other stakeholders for improving surrounding environment.
