[Current Affairs] October 01,2020 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation

What’s going on? Pakistan’s govt aims to plant 10 billion trees over the next five years, with the help of local communities. This tree planting initiative is part of an overarching plan to change practices and cut emissions that contribute to climate change (i.e. trees absorb carbon dioxide – Co2).

What is climate change? Climate change is a long-term change in average weather patterns. These changes are largely driven by human activities, like fuel burning, that release greenhouse gases into Earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat and make the planet warmer. Natural processes can also contribute to climate change, such as volcanic activity, changes in the Sun’s energy output, and variations in Earth’s orbit.

The details: Pakistan is not a “big emitter” of greenhouse gases. Co2 is also known as a greenhouse gas. The top three countries that emitted the most Co2 in 2019 are China, the United States (US) and India. Things like electricity and coal burning largely cause Co2 emissions. Even though developing countries like Pakistan have lower emissions, climate-driven extreme weather events like floods and droughts can displace or kill several people.

Tell me more: Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is looking to put Pakistan on a “green trajectory.” The govt’s suggestions to lower emissions include:

• Tree planting
• A new electric vehicle policy to reduce air pollution
• A renewable energy plan for Pakistan to get a third of its power from wind and solar power within a decade, while another third of its power is meant to come from hydroelectric dams

However, environmental activists claim that corruption and lazy implementation have made it harder for Pakistan to meet its climate goals. For example, people have widely ignored the govt’s ban on plastic bags. Laws that ban tree felling are also rarely enforced.

The bottom line: Pakistan is vulnerable to global warming (i.e. human-produced increases in temperature). Summer temperatures in southern cities are already passing 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In August, an unprecedented amount of rain flooded parts of Karachi and killed dozens of people. Glaciers in the northern mountain areas are reportedly the country’s main water source, and melting faster than ever. Highland communities are already facing occasional water shortages and flash floods.