Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nafees
The United Nation has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers prevention. The aim of this is to educate the people across the globe and raise awareness about the importance of glacier, and its protection. Although it sounds simple to say, doing it will be challenging. Saving the glacier is not a matter of a day or two, it can take many years or even decades. Therefore we have to develop a comprehensive, and long terms strategy. First we have to see what land resources we have, what are its uses and what problems they are facing. If we look at the geography of Pakistan, it has all the land resources up to glaciers, mountains, plains, deserts, forests, and seas. A question arises as to what are the use of these resources. Are we really using it properly? If we don’t, what we should do in the near future?
Currently, environmental pollution and population growth are exerting pressure on our natural resources. Which includes soil, forests, rivers, and mountains. The pressure on these resources is further intensified due to climate change, which we have to discuss. This year (2025) we have to make proper calculation about our investment we have made to control environmental pollution, or how much investment is needed.
Rising temperatures is a key factor in climate change. We often confuse the earth’s average temperature with the daily and seasonal temperature. Although it is not so. Seasonal temperatures tend to be higher or lower daily. In which we use the terms minimum, maximum and average daily temperatures. The average temperature of the earth’s surface is 15 degrees Centigrade, and is faxed. The rise in temperature that we talk about in relation to climate change is 15 degrees Centigrade. In the year 2024, the average temperature of the earth has increased by 1.6 degrees Centigrade so far. Earlier, this increase was 1.5 degrees Celsius. This rise has a direct effect on the daily and seasonal temperatures. This cause disturbances in rainfall pattern, intensifying summer, heatwaves, and flooding.
The first impact that an increase in temperature has is our mountainous terrain. Especially in areas where snow remains frozen in the form of glaciers. Glacier balance the hydrologic cycle. In the plains, glaciers continually feeding the rivers that lead to the continuous flow and availability of water during the year. Since climate change, average temperatures have increased, therefore, the seasonal temperature becomes several percent higher than normal. Due to which, the snow on the mountains started melting rapidly. When rainwater is mixed with this molten snow, it takes the form of floods. Which causes damage in the plains? Nowadays, a term is very common which is called glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF). That is, the formation of the lake from the melting of the glacier and causing this overflow.
Mountains cover 22% of the earth’s surface, and is home to 13% of the world’s population. In comparison, Pakistan is environmentally more sensitivity than the remaining world. Because 50% of its total area consists of mountains. While there are 7253 glaciers in the northern mountains of Pakistan. Due to the presence of large numbers of glaciers, the northern part of Pakistan is also called the third pole. In that sense, mountains offer a beautiful view, but on the other hand, there are also natural disasters associated with it. Which include storms, rain, snowfall, low temperatures, movement in the mountains, landslides, and snow slides involved. According to the Pakistan Institute for Climate Change, up to 3,000 glaciers in Pakistan have turned into lakes. There are thirty-three lakes in it that can cause large-scale flooding. Which can affect up to seventy-one million mountain dwellers. Since most of the people of this population suffer from poverty and do not have enough resources to protect themselves from it.
Important recommendations
Collect accurate and clear data on mountains.
Large scale awareness campaigns should be launched among the people about the environmental sensitivity of the mountainous area.
Tourism should be promoted in the mountainous areas. This will help in fund generation.
Empower mountain communities to move forward in the development of tourism, and play their role in enforcing national and provincial policies and laws.
Investment should be made in infrastructure in remote hilly areas and work should be done on alternative routes.
The mountain ecosystem should be restored, and the trees removed from them should be planted back on it.
Remove encroachments from rivers’ bank and flowing water should be given properly way.
In case of an emergency, people should be provided information about pre-defined safe destinations.
The Author is Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar
