Extreme weather events – storms, severe torrential rains, cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and droughts are happening more frequently all over the world due to climate change, putting more and more people in danger and causing structural and economic damage. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) for the Asia region noted the sensitivity of agriculture-dependent economies (such as Pakistan) towards climate change. It arises from their distinct geography, demographic trends, socioeconomic factors, and lack of adaptive capacity that, when taken together, determine the climate change vulnerability profile of the country. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change and ranks 5th among the countries affected by extreme rainfall events. Over the past several decades, South Asia’s climate, including that of Pakistan, has changed, with significant impacts on the environment and people.
A glimpse of climate change can be seen in the devastating 2022 Pakistan floods, mainly caused by increased precipitation, four times higher than the average, especially in the Sindh and Baluchistan Provinces of Pakistan. The glaciers melting fueled by climate change have destroyed around 50% of the crops of Pakistan, about a million livestock, breaching of riverbanks, soil transport and sedimentation, and destruction of critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, and public health facilities. Besides, it has led to food shortages, displacement of rural communities, and their shifting to major cities. The fingerprints of climate change are present in these unprecedented floods in Pakistan and other countries.
Taking notice of this situation and other factors impeding development on a global scale, the world body, the United Nations, agreed on the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” in September 2015 and “The Paris Agreement on Climate Change”. These agreements recognize the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change based on the best available knowledge. It also recognizes developing countries' specific needs and special circumstances, especially those particularly vulnerable to climate change's adverse effects. To support and implement those agreements, concerted, solid, and strategic actions should be taken to enhance climate and disaster resilience and sustainability.
The National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) of 2012, framed by the Government of Pakistan as the guiding policy document for the country on climate change, acknowledges the growing risk of future extreme natural hazards due to climate change. It further provides a picture of the vulnerabilities faced by individual sectors, ecological regions, and socioeconomic classes. [Following the devastating earthquake of 2005, Pakistan established Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority on October 24, 2005, for the affectees of the earthquake. Later, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was established as the executive arm of National Disaster Management Commission, which is headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. Likewise, a provincial disaster management authority was established in each province. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Sindhis active since 2010. NDMA and PDMAs are the first responders whenever and wherever a disaster strikes the country. The conference would provide an opportunity to discuss institutional role and response to disaster events and articulate strategies for effective mitigation measures.
Coupled with flooding of vast areas following unprecedented monsoon rains, lack of effective drainage system for accumulated rainwater in the low-lying areas of Sindh and Balochistan presents a gloomy picture. Established in 1997 as an autonomous organization, Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) is mandated to provide for the establishment, on long term, sustainable and participatory basis, of public system for the distribution and delivery of irrigation water, the removal of drainage water and management of flood waters. This conference would serve as platform to discuss and suggest ways and means to improve institutional response and strategic actions for such future events.
The US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, Pakistan, is a well-recognized Water Center ( water.muet.edu.pk ) at the national and international level for its contributions and engagement in addressing water-related challenges. The USPCAS-W is thus well positioned to serve as a Venue to organize this international conference in collaboration with the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China ( english.egi.cas.cn ). The national partners include i.e., HEC Pakistan ( www.hec.gov.pk ) the Center of Excellence in Water Resources Engineering ( cewre.edu.pk ), the University of Engineering & Technology ( www.uet.edu.pk ) Lahore, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Faisalabad ( uaf.edu.pk ) and Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam ( sau.edu.pk and other line departments.
The USPCAS-W will encourage and coordinate participation from countries all around the world for a broad-based discussion and development of strategic mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change challenges, especially flooding, within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all the United Nations Member States, including Pakistan, in 2015. Flooding represents a major barrier to alleviating poverty in many parts of the developing world, where vulnerable communities are often exposed to sudden and life-threatening events.
This conference will provide a forum for researchers, academics, and practitioners actively involved in improving our understanding of flood events and our approaches to response, recovery, rehabilitation, and resilience.
