27915_100286295karachicityclimatechangead

The focus has been to take either afire-fighting approach with all theassociated inadequacies in responsemechanisms in tact or to take shortterm ad-hoc measures with no sustainabilityattached to them. Climatechange adaptation is all aboutbeing prepared. From reducing therisk of damage to being betterequipped to meet the possible consequencesis what adaptive capacityis all about. For that to happen, aparadigm shift in planning prioritiesis required. The need is to move urgentlyon multiple fronts to addressthis issue that may include an intensifiedfocus on research and analysisand implementation of relevant policyframeworks for facilitating requiredplanning and project basedinterventions.Fig. 26karachi City - Cascading Consequences for ‘Flooding’Declining publichealthPublicdiscontent andpossibleconflictSetback to localeconomyFinancial stressinfrastructurerepair and healthcostsLoss of housing andLive LaHood’sLoss of life and personal injury(especiallyvulnerableCommunities slums/hill settlements/rural communitiesand low lyinginner cityneighborhoods)Direct damageto property,infrastructureand utilitiesContaminationand disease fromflood and sewerwaterOverflow ofLyari/Malirrivers and nullahsBlockage of stormwater drains/nullahsSewer overflowsSocial unrest Possiblerelocation and resettlement ofcommunitiesFlooDINgThe scope of the Study could notallow detailed focus into a numberof cross-cutting themes such as possibleimpact and consequences forthe local economy, social and largerscale governance aspects etc. Howeverthey are also of fundamentalimportance as a climate change scenariohas what can be called as acascading effect with one sector ofthe urban scene linking with theother to create a complicated collageof short and long term damagesand setbacks to the growthprocess of the city.DroughtDrought is caused by lack of sufficientrainfall. Droughts can either beshort and sharp, or prolonged.Judiciousmanagement of water resources,in terms of meeting thesupply and demand gap can greatlyreduce the possible adverse impactsof a drought upon us and on the environment.Within the context ofdrought, the following focus areasare being considered:Drought – possible Impacts• Reducing river flows• Reducing ground water replenishment(recharge)• Increasing evaporation• Increasing loss from brokenwater mains due to increasingsubsidence• Increasing demand for waterfrom people and wildlife• Adverse impacts on people andlivelihoods dependent on farming35