27915_100286295karachicityclimatechangead

Section 3 : Managing the ImpactsIn a country like Pakistan wherethere are crisis a plenty with theeconomy and critical institutionsof the state struggling to find relevancewithin a viable governanceframework, where the social sectoris stressed and heightened securityconcerns a matter of daily routine itis difficult to imagine that an issuelike climate change and possiblelong term projections laced with uncertaintieswould create a sense ofurgency and need for immediate action.Mobilizing people and institutionsfor action would then requireplacing the issue in a context thatcan find both relevance and urgencywithin our larger planning priorities.A discussion on climate changeadaptation should therefore startwith a discussion on how the climatechange-related risks fit withinother existing risks and priority challengesrather than on the risks thatclimate change is bringing or maybring. Climate change adaptation isall about promoting good developmentand good governance and onbringing all relevant stakeholdersunder a common platform for actionand coordination. The strategicframework that binds climatechange adaptation actions aregeared to meet already existinggaps and deficits in key urban servicessuch as provision for water, sanitation,drainage, energy efficiency,housing and healthcare, emphasison sustainable public transport, andimproving the financial well being ofmarginalized communities – withinwhich measures for climate changeadaptation are integrated. This iswhat constitutes as making a city resilientnot just to meet a climatechange impact but to cope with theeveryday risks and urban growthchallenges generally. The contexttherefore is of making a city vibrantand well governed with preparednessto meet likely climate changescenarios accruing as a cobenefit.Thisunderstanding can leadto a strategically important shift ofnot considering climate changeadaptation as something separaterather incorporating the relevantpolicy and strategies in the overalldevelopment framework as they relateto specific sectors and institutions.If we focus on Karachi than thereare some fundamental challengesrelated to the larger governanceand institutional framework thatneed to be addressed first. Understandingthe political economy isthe first step in moving towards devisinga viable strategy for reforms.While developing and implementinga climate change adaptation strategyhas to be a participatoryprocess, the main responsibility forimplementing policies to addressthe impacts of climate change incities rests with local governments.For us this consideration offers themost critical challenge of all. Overthe years, the capacity and writ oflocal government entities in Karachihave steadily eroded. Karachi in effectis a highly decentralized city interms of control over land and provisionof services. This decentralizationis manifested both officially andunofficially.Nearly 90% of city land is underpublic ownership, where housing facilitiescannot be extended withoutthe consent of owning agency, ofwhich there are 17 major institutions(ADB 2005). The city governmentowns only 30.9% of the land. 37While decentralization may be onechallenge, the greater challenge isthe complete absence of a coordinatinglegislative or administrativemechanism binding these decentralizedentities. Due to a variety of reasons,mostly political, the mandateand relevance of the local governmentdevelopment authorities hasbeen minimized to a level that mostdevelopment taking place along theperipheral areas is informal in naturemostly through land grabs. Provisionof services is not sanctionedfor these settlements rather are accessedillegally accessing tappingcivic infrastructure. Conflicts, basicallypolitical in nature with ethnic,financial and social underpinningsare making the city and the associatedpolicy formulation and developmentprocesses more divisive andcomplicated. So the first challenge isto resolve conflicts and place thecity government in a rightful placeof adopting the role of theguardians of the city with the requi-37Karachi Strategic Development Plan (KSDP) 202062