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Climate change is real and is mainly attributed to anthropogenic activities that include change in the physical, biological and social environment. Trends of consumption and resource use have always remained a concern while discussing factors of climate change. Carbon dioxide is the main man contributed greenhouse gas. The main contribution to massive carbon dioxide emissions comes from the developed countries but severe consequences are being faced by the developing countries due to improper management governance issues. Rapid population growth and development have forced dwellers to adopt technologies that could give maximum profit at the cost of natural resources. Similarly, in agriculture, the use of pesticides for maximum yield is damaging not only the soil chemistry but also destroying ground water resources. Consumption-oriented lifestyles are contributing to climate change, which in turn is already resulting in people losing livelihoods, getting trapped into poverty and falling victims to natural disasters. Responding to the challenge requires adaptation measures in energy use, livelihoods and lifestyles patterns.
Energy is central to sustainable development. All aspects of development -- social, economic, and environmental -- including health, education, livelihoods, access to water, agricultural productivity, industrial growth etc are affected by it. Yet 2 billion people around the world have no access to electricity or water. Beyond those who lack access altogether, there are millions more whose access is insufficient often dependent on traditional and highly inefficient forms of energy. Use of traditional energy sources, such as wood fuel, contributes to deforestation and results in health-damaging indoor pollution. At the other end of development spectrum, rapid industrialization dependent on energy conversion and use are the major contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that serves as a major cause for the climate change. Both energy systems have impacted environment significantly.
While the demand for energy continues to grow, the supply side of the equation has its own sets of challenges including too much market volatility and risk to supply arising from dependence on relatively few geological deposits vulnerable to geopolitical threats. The energy security concerns coupled with many environmental challenges arising from rapid climate change has compelled the world to look at alternative energy systems and sources. Moving forward to a sustainable energy pathway requires harnessing the renewable forms of energy such as the wind, hydro and solar and biogas resources.
The centrality of energy to sustainable development and poverty alleviation makes it a major challenge for developing countries like Pakistan. At the same time, it opens doors to many opportunities for us to explore development of different energy technologies, systems and infrastructures.
In the given context it becomes imperative to understand the nature of alternative future energy transitions, their implications for human development and environment, and the many challenges and opportunities that they may present. And yet these important issues are often missing in our mainstream policy discourses.
Climate change is already affecting livelihoods and it is the poorest of the poor who are getting affected disproportionately. The impact of climate change on agriculture is an issue of great significance to the lives and livelihoods of millions of poor people in South Asia who depend on agriculture for survival. Higher temperatures are known to result in decline in yields and shortening of crop lifecycle. Similarly, the flow of Indus river basin is also likely to affect cotton production in Pakistan, which might affect livelihoods on a large scale. Climate change and livelihoods interface is also evident in other sector such as, fisheries.
Challenges arising out of climate change require that we, as individuals and communities, make personal and consumer choices to consume natural resources sagaciously; conserve and make conscious decision to challenge and reprioritize our lifestyles; re-think our ethics with relation to the environment and the earth; utilize clean, renewable, low-impact energy; and ensure the health of the natural world for present and future generations.
