Impacts of global wariming

The emissions of these harmful gases cause the depletion of ozone layer, an atmospheric layer at a heights of about 20 t0 30 miles that prevents most sun ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth surface. These dangerous ultraviolet rays are harmful both to the human, marine life and crops. These rays will dramatically increase earth temperature which in turn will cause more floods by melting glaciers. Acid rain is also the result of these harmful gases. The concept of global warming is a man made issue and can be controlled only by the human being. Concern about environmental degradation is not a new one. In the 4th BC the great Greek philosopher Plato expressed concern about deforestation and soil erosion. The first recorded pressure groups for environmental preservation was the Commons, the Open Spaces and Footpath preservation Society founded in the 1850`s and establishment of National Parks in the USA in the same century. The present environmentalists such as Friends of the Earth, Green Peace and World Wide Fund for Nature are their direct descendants. The whole world is now obsessed with the burning issue of global warming as how to reduce chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and controlling green house gases? Otherwise a catastrophe will occur throughout the world. Conferences are being held and commissions are formed by the world leaders and international organizations to tackle the issue. A group of experts reported to the UN Inter Governmental Panel in 1990 that accounted an increase of about 1.3 degree centigrade in the earth`s atmosphere by the year 2020 and another increase of 1.7 degree centigrade by the year 2070.A small change in the temperature means a big difference in the ecosystem and a huge impact on human race. Global warming could alter the hydrologic cycle of the biggest ecosystem, the oceans. It is estimated that the sea level will rise by 30 cm by the year 2030 and one meter after about 100 years. As a result of global warming propensity to natural disasters will intensify.Floods,landslides,avalanches and erosion will threaten life rendering uninhabitable many heavily populated river delta regions including entire cities in Asia. Tropical storms hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunami will become violent. Although the effects of global warming are felt universally, Chitral a remote area in the extreme corner of Pakistan is not exempted. For the last many years the people of Chitral are realizing its effects to a large extent in the shape of flash floods, avalanches and sliding. Chitral witnessed one of its worst flooding in 2010 when roads were badly damaged and many residential settlements were washed away by flash flood. However, the current flood is even worse than the previous ones. Beside GW other factors mainly responsible for flooding and sliding in Chitral are deforestation of tress by men and overgrazing of pastures by the cattles.The rapid increase in population has resulted in cutting of indigenous trees for fuels and timber .Resultantly no more plantations is encouraged and this causes flood and soil erosion of land. The overgrazing of the pastures also results in sliding, flash floods and even avalanches. The overgrazing of the pastures not only left the land barren but the feces of the animals consisted of methane, also a contributor to global warming. This year catastrophic flash flooding has badly hit Chitral but tehsil Lotkoh is worst hit.Droshp village in Garamchashma is completely disappeared from the map of the district as the whole village is washed away. A full-fledged market in Shoghor has also completely been washed away. Many homes in village Kaset/Pacheli have also been washed away by the flash floods. The affectees are sitting under the open sky with the loss of their entire savings and belongings. Even worse is that the link of Garamchashma has been cut off from the rest of the country due to the severe damages caused to the Garamchashma to Chitral main road. And there is fear of food item shortages in the markets of Garamchashma and its adjacent valleys of Karimabad and Arkari. The flash flood has also damaged irrigation channels and valleys’ link roads badly. In Chitral many NGOs have been working to address the issue of global warming. These organizations are working in sensitizing the communities about coping the disaster and resilience, preparedness, documentation of indigenous practices and consolidation with the modern scientific methods and introduction of Early Warning Systems. Some of them are active in plantation and conservancy (including preserving pastures from overgrazing). These organizations have beautiful and attracting slogans & objectives regarding natural disasters caused by global warming. These objectives are confined to only to the theory without any sustainability . They could arrange few training and workshops and distribute kids as per their MOUs signed with the foreign donors. After the distribution of the shield/certificates and photo shooting they will remain absent and will appear again post calamity for assessment and reporting etc. Their achievements are far and few as have been displayed during the past and current disasters. However, for addressing the crucial issue of global warming more collective concerted efforts should be directed towards the production of more efficient vehicles, less use of fossil fuels, discouraging deforestation, a turn to novel devices like combustion –free fuel cells and introduction of solar and wind energy, more plantation, treatment of harmful gases that leave into the atmosphere and abomination of ozone depleting gases and last but not the least preservation of our pastures from overgrazing.. With respect to Chitral maximum involvement of the community in awareness raising and decision making , plantation of more tress, protecting pastures from overgrazing and installation of early warning systems at the disaster prone areas will be a mile stone in coping with natural disasters. In this respect the concerned line departments should play a more proactive role along with the district administration. They should also monitor the performance of the nongovernmental organizations too, as whether they are up to the expectations of the communities. Perhaps only then the future of the mother earth can be blessed. ]]>