Kyleen Ploch
Pakistan
Greenfield High School
The Economics of Global Warming
Mitigation and adaptation to climate change have become concerns around the globe.
Efforts to prevent climate change require strong financial support and resources to
effectively impact the oncoming crisis of global warming. Developed countries, such as
those who conferenced at Kyoto, have the financial standing to mitigate global warming,
while developing countries do not. The developed countries played a larger role in
polluting and implementing the climate change; it should be their responsibility to
address and attempt to resolve the issue. Pakistan acknowledges climate change as an
important concern, but as a developing nation, does not have view it as urgent in our
policies.
It is evident that climate change is a concern in Pakistan. The Pakistani people have
noticed that the winter are shorter, the summer hotter and earlier and the river Ravi is
now mostly a dry bed.1 Melting of glaciers has also posed a threat to Pakistan. India, to
the East of the mountains, and Afghanistan, to the west, have long conflicted with
Pakistan, and if that physical border were to melt, issues may arise among nations.2 It is
in the best interest of Pakistan to avoid climate change.
While Pakistan is feeling the effects of Global warming, it is not one of the nations most
responsible for it. If Pakistan were to join the Kyoto Policy of emitting less Carbon
Dioxide or conserving water, the small nation would not have nearly as mush impact on
the globe as larger, more influential nations would. Resolving global warming would
most effectively be developed by powerful and influential countries.
Pakistan does not have the political or financial means to develop a national policy on
climate change. In 2005, a mega water reservoir was planned to span across the Indus
River to conserve water. Due to regional conflicts in the developing nation, the project
was aborted in 2008.3 Ideas such as desalinization projects and conservational forests
have also been topics of consideration in Pakistan. The government, however, currently
has more pressing issues to confront with their limited funds. Private corporations or
international support would be necessary to stimulate policies on global warming in
Pakistan, because the government does not have the ability to confront the issue itself.
1
"Climate change mitigation is related to building democracy and decreasing poverty | Grist." Grist |
Environmental News, Commentary, Advice. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.grist.org/article/climatechange-and-pakistans-priorities/>.
2
"Global Warming Ignites Borders as Well." Global Policy Forum. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/212-environment/48576-global-war>.
3
"GLOBAL WARMING." Sindhi Association of North America. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.sanalist.org/kalabagh/a-3.htm>.
Climate change is a world wide issue brought on by certain areas of the world but
affecting all. Pakistan recognizes the issue of global warming, but is more concerned with
confronting and budgeting for national issues that we see as more urgent to the current
state of out government system. The developed nations active in Kyoto and the IPCC
have the capability and responsibility to lead the way in climate change economics. It is
Pakistan’s policy to support the efforts of global warming mitigation and adaptation but
to not become an active participant in them under government policy.
Works Cited
IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.ipcc.ch>.
"Pakistan & the climate change challenge." The News International - No. 1 English Newspaper
from Pakistan - Thursday, February 25, 2010. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.
<http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154499>.
"UN Reform - Pakistan Mission to UN." Pakistan Mission to The United Nations. Web. 25 Feb.
2010. <http://www.pakun.org/unreform/index.php>.