Pakistan Hit by Heavy Floods
As global temperatures gradually increase by the decade, case studies suggest that it is crucial for the world to be keenly aware of the countries most vulnerable to climate change (World Economic Forum). One such country is Pakistan, as it is currently suffering from floods that completely engulf a third of the country. With no hope of reaching full restoration of infrastructure anytime soon, Pakistan will continue to undergo devastating losses and flood victims will suffer from a lack of resources (U.S. Institute of Peace). Since the flooding started, unforgiving rains have displaced over 660,000 individuals in record time. According to the Center For Strategic & International Studies, around 1,500 individuals have been killed with the majority of survivors forced out of their homes. Considering factors like emergency relief efforts and damage to infrastructure, scientists estimate that the cost to provide for flood survivors and rebuild will be over $30 billion (Project Syndicate).
The cause of the flash flooding in Pakistan is dense monsoonal rainfall. A monsoon is defined by National Geographic as a seasonal change in the strongest winds of a region which brings heavy rain to certain parts of the region. The determining factor of how heavy an interval of rainfall becomes is the amount of the sun’s radiation that breaches Earth’s atmosphere (National Weather Service). Scientists say that greenhouse gasses, a man-made factor of global warming, increase the amount of infrared radiation reflected in Earth’s atmosphere (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This aspect of long-term heating induces even warmer winds to travel towards tropical countries, resulting in denser, more rain-filled monsoon seasons like Pakistan’s.
The crisis in Pakistan is one of many incidents caused by the Global North and South Divide (Institute of British Geographers). Regions shaping the Global North, or countries with socioeconomic advantages, resources and up-to-date technologies and infrastructure, are urged to take accountability for their contributions to climate change as effects like the continuing flash floods impact countries of developing countries. The Global South is characterized as countries having lower income and less resources than those in the Global North (DBpedia). A major factor that holds more developed countries to blame for global warming is their abundance of factories and manufacturing. According to Advancing Earth and Space Science, a total 92% of excess carbon emissions in the atmosphere can be traced back to those countries. This harmful production process ultimately transforms weather patterns worldwide and brings annual temperatures to new extremities every year. Senior Vsevolod Gaskov provides insight on factories and the difficulty in decreasing their carbon emissions.
“Fossil fuels are the main culprit [of these carbon emissions],” Gaskov said. “Then again, I would say it is hard to analyze what specifically causes the most emissions and contributes the most to climate change. It is really hard to track since everything uses fuel. Coal energy and gas usage is everywhere.”
The U.S., a major contributor to climate change and part of the Global North, is currently providing food and shelter assistance to Pakistan in their time of need (ShareAmerica). National contributors such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, are reported to provide necessities such as emergency relief supplies, shelter assistance and support for the livelihoods of flood victims. To account for waterborne diseases, there are organizational sanitizing provisions as well as clean water access to flood survivors. To many, this is only considered a stepping stone to how the nation can truly change their means of production for the better. Junior Peyton Khorey gives her stance on how impactful the U.S. is on a global scale.
“Sending the emergency aid is a start,” Khorey said. “However, the U.S. still needs to be held accountable for the effects they have on the environment that have led to this in Pakistan. It does not really serve anyone if we ignore the problem until it explicitly involves us. By then, it will be too late.”
National agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pew Research Center are working to improve public awareness of climate change throughout the country. In addition to providing credible statistics and sourcing, the EPA conducts research on climate change to understand its impacts and help manage its risks. The Pew Research Center produces observational articles in their “Climate, Energy & Environment” publications. Junior Clare Bailey thinks the U.S. provides ample support in circulating environmental awareness, though she believes it can vastly improve on reducing industrial emissions as well.
“The environmental awareness in the U.S. has risen rapidly, providing hope of environmentally aware citizens specializing in and leading major industries [that] currently contribute to global warming and negative effects felt internationally,” Bailey said. “[Still], the U.S. needs to take more urgent action in shifting major systems towards decreasing emissions if they want to minimize international effects and continue to support places experiencing crises such as Pakistan.”Khorey recommended two organizations to donate to that she feels will use the funds most effectively: Islamic Relief USA and the International Rescue Committee. The website for Islamic Relief USA explains the current humanitarian crisis so the donor is more informed of the organization’s cause and the International Rescue Committee is characterized by its good track record when it comes to financially aiding Pakistan.
