Speakers at a seminar on ‘Climate change: Impacts on Livelihood,
Marine and Coastal Resources’ said on Saturday that indigenous people
were direct victims of climate change and the state had failed to
provide required protection to the people during calamities.
The
seminar was jointly organised by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, Pakistan
Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) and National Council
for Environment Journalists, which attracted a large number of
fisherwomen and civil society activists. The event was the part of
activities related to a Week of Action for Climate Justice.
The
speakers focused on the overall situation of the depleting natural
resources and vulnerabilities of indigenous communities living in rural
areas, forests, along lakes and the coasts of Pakistan. Syed Baloch,
General Secretary of the PFF quoting the impacts of cyclones, tsunami,
floods, droughts and hurricane in the world said these countries have
learned lessons from effects and prepared more to avert the losses. But
as compared to the world, “we do not have serious efforts to initiate
adaptation measures with the involvement of communities.”
Baloch said Pakistan had designed climate change policy draft, which was approved by the parliament but yet to be implemented.
Nadia
Bajwa of WWF Pakistan, focal person on climate change adaptation
programme, which is working in 1050-km-long coastal areas from Indus
Delta, Keti Bunder, Kharo Chan in Sindh to Jewani, Balochistan province
said they are conducting ‘coastal community vulnerability assessment’.
“We are working to have scientific and sociological feedback from
various sectors, including indigenous people living in the target areas.
We are also working on trans boundary issues related to Pakistan and
India,” she said while sharing experiences related to climate change
impacts. Sharing findings of the study, she said they have designed
strategy to initiate community level adaptation in two union councils of
Thatta district coastal areas.
“We are learning from community
experiences regarding visible changes related to climate.” She said
Pakistan is on the number 16 of the world index of the impacts of
climate change mapping.”
She said mangroves plantation on the
priority of WFF because of its role to store carbon gases. Apart from
this they offer alternative energy in the coastal areas.
Majeed
Motani, a community elder belonging to Ibrahim Hydri, talking about the
status of marine life, said coastal communities are direct victims of
sea level rise. Due to negligible approach of the government
authorities, marine pollution is increasing, affecting source of
livelihood of small scale fishermen. There is no more fish along the
beaches and fishermen are losing their traditional sources of income.
He said fishermen are demanding the government to avoid releasing
industrial waste into the sea without treatment, but neither the
government has policies to challenge polluters nor is stronger voice by
environmentalists and media to save natural resources. Motani said due
to depleting mangroves forests the lives and livelihoods might be
affected. Karachi is vulnerable to face cyclones and tsunamis,
emphasising the need to conserve mangroves to avert the threats of such
disasters. He gave a background of mangroves forests, existing around
129-km long city coast.
NCEJ President Amar Guriro said Pakistan
is facing the loss of $365 billion due to depleting ecology over all in
the country. Apart from this, he said Pakistan does not have policy to
mitigate the effects of natural calamities.
He said majority of
people in hospitals are facing water-related diseases because they do
not have access to potable water. Due to change in rain pattern Pakistan
is experiencing flood disasters since the last three consecutive years
and have lost infrastructure and sources of livelihoods. Zulfiqar Shah,
Joint Director of Piler said Sindh was more vulnerable to disasters.
Provincial population is said to be around 50 million, out of which 30
million people live in rural areas, which are more vulnerable to face
effects of disasters, depletion of resources and poverty.
He said
about 18 million people in Sindh province live below poverty line and
were the direct victims of poverty, food shortage. They do not have
access to potable water.
Monsoon pattern change is also impacting
on the poor segments of the society, mostly indigenous communities,
herders, farmers and fishermen. Majority of people do not have their own
piece of land. Farmers and fishermen are vulnerable to face shortening
sources of livelihoods.
He said three million fishermen depend on
fishing, deriving their sources of income from marine and inland
waters. Similarly, majority of rural communities depend on cultivation
but due to the soil infertility they are facing food insecurity. Among
the rural people women and children are more victims of the impacts of
these changes, he said.
Earlier, Jamil Junejo in his introductory
speech said due to increasing warming temperature the world communities
are facing impacts on their lives and natural resources, as these
people are natural custodians of natural resources. Mustafa Gurgaiz also
spoke on the occasion.
