Environmental Pollution: What will New in 2024

The climate crisis has shaken the world and its effects are so severe that environmentalists, the United Nations and other institutions and organizations have become active in their respective spheres. If the activities at this level had started two decades ago, our land might not have suffered from this dire situation. The problems we have suffered from global warming are far less than the sufferings we may face in the future. If the glaciers continue to melt and join the oceans, our cities will be submerged. The shape of the world will change and become terrible In the year 2023, experts were seen sitting together in several conferences at the global level. What changes will the year 2024 bring in the environment? Will our efforts be fruitful in returning the earth to its beauty and temperature? These are the questions we have to find the answers together. The year 2023 has been declared as the hottest year in human history and it has been admitted that Pakistan is included in the list of countries most affected by the threats of global warming. Due to the increase in carbon emissions caused by the large-scale use of fossil fuels i.e. biofuels in developed countries, the earth's temperature is continuously increasing. This is leading to water scarcity in a large part of the world and consequent decline in agricultural production. The increasing incidence of forest fires is also a result of this situation. Apart from this, due to the melting of glaciers and the rise in the sea level, the possibility of submergence of vast populations is also continuously increasing. The process of climate change is accelerating and it is having serious consequences for Pakistan, It is no longer possible for us to ignore the challenges in this regard as not long ago we were faced with rapid melting of glaciers, destruction of animals and human life due to floods caused by rainfall in urban and rural areas. He used to read about being influenced only in books or such imagery was seen in Hollywood movies. However, now this situation is being seen again and again in Pakistan practically every few years or few months.

 

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan is geologically located in a region where climate change has threatened the income, housing, food and security of a large number of Pakistanis. This dire situation can be gauged from the fact that Pakistan is experiencing a higher average temperature than the global average. According to the ranking released in 2023 by Inform Risk Index, a system for measuring the level of risk of most disasters in the world, Pakistan is ranked 16th out of 191 countries. Furthermore, climate change mitigation measures often disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged. So we need to be proactive and aware to tackle the challenge of climate change in every possible way. For this, while there is a need to take practical steps at the level of the federal and provincial governments to the local governments, we also need to make it a part of the curriculum at the school level so that our new generation understands and copes with climate change. can be prepared for

Last year's World Environment Conference in the Emirates highlighted the seriousness of the issue, with participating countries seeking to set new targets for environmental protection. More than 110 countries have agreed to increase global renewable energy targets over the next seven years until 2030. The agreement was officially announced by the United Arab Emirates, the host country of the World Environment Summit COP28. The countries that are part of this deal will increase the volume of renewable energy to 11 thousand gigawatts by the end of this decade through comprehensive efforts.

The good news is that the world has become aware of the real threats to the environment. Deforestation, slow growth of new forests, carbon-emitting industries, vehicles, crop and forest fires and other factors are causing environmental problems. Other than these factors are also licking our nature like termites. As of May 2023, CO2 PPM (parts per million) is at 420.00 and global temperature increase is 1.15C compared to pre-industrial levels. Scientists are constantly warning that the planet has crossed a series of tipping points that could have catastrophic consequences, from the melting of permafrost in the Arctic, the loss of the Greenland ice sheet at an unprecedented rate to our Enough to worry about. Economists and environmentalists have urged policymakers for years to heavily tax activities that emit greenhouse gases. Carbon tax is currently implemented in 27 countries of the world, including various countries of the European Union, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Ukraine and Argentina.

It should be implemented in all countries by 2024 to reduce carbon emissions rapidly. One factor of environmental destruction that the world overlooks is wasted human food. It can also be called food waste. About one-third of the food produced for human consumption, about 1.3 billion tons, is wasted. This is enough to feed 3 billion people. In the United States, this amounts to about 60 million tons of fruits and vegetables. In addition, the past 50 years have seen a rapid increase in human consumption, population, global trade and urbanization, resulting in human consumption of the Earth's natural resources at a faster rate. Due to environmental problems, more than 500 species of land animals are on the verge of extinction and are likely to disappear within 20 years. A similar number disappeared during the last century.
Why is our world so addicted to plastic? 300 million tons of plastic waste is generated every year. A report in the scientific journal Nature states that around 14 million tons of plastic currently end up in the oceans every year, harming wildlife habitats and the animals that live in them. According to National Geographic, 91% of all plastic ever created is not recycled. It takes centuries to decompose and disappear.
Talking about Pakistan, according to experts, it will continue to face environmental pollution and smog problems even in the year 2024. Experts admit that the average life expectancy of citizens living in Punjab could be reduced by at least seven years. Smog and air pollution are the second biggest threat to citizens' health, which will continue into the new year. Not only do we not have authentic research into the causes of smog, we cannot control smog through hearsay and speculation alone. Comprehensive measures to combat smog can only be taken with authentic data to protect public health. In this situation, the Punjab government decided to conduct a study by international consultants to bring out the real reasons for the increase in smog. He ordered a crackdown on the sellers of substandard petrol and diesel and asked the administration to take indiscriminate action against those selling substandard petrol and diesel. Instead of sprinkling water on the roads, the mud should be cleaned completely from the roads. Experts in environmental science say that sprinkling water on roads or closing schools three days a week may bring some improvement, but the government needs to understand how to have a coherent plan to solve environmental problems. What are the long-term measures that really work?

To solve any problem we need accurate data which we don't have. In 2023, the current caretaker government approved the Clean Air Policy, but it has not been implemented till date. Public policy and environmental experts believe that the Punjab government and related departments are aware of the harm and seriousness of smog and environmental pollution, while the Air Quality Policy 2023 also includes pollution, causes of smog, long-term and short-term measures for its elimination. have been mentioned but unfortunately these policies are not being implemented. There is talk of bringing electric buses from 2018 which could not come till date, now 10 thousand electric motorcycles will be ordered but these are very insufficient. The project of installing air quality monitoring equipment started in 2018 which has not been completed till date. Experts say that dealing with air pollution in Pakistan is a complex and long-term challenge, and taking decisive steps in this regard is indispensable.
Recommendations compiled by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad for reducing smog and air pollution state that steps must be taken to provide real-time data on smog and air pollution. Thus, the use of polluting fuels such as coal and substandard diesel must be stopped and alternative sources of energy must be used. Use of electric and hybrid vehicles should be encouraged instead of conventional diesel and petrol vehicles. Public transport should be improved. Carpooling and ride-sharing should be promoted to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. The recommendations also call for creating public awareness about smog and air pollution.

Control industrial pollution, invest in cleaner production technologies. Standards set for industries, vehicles and construction sector should be updated. Waste disposal methods should be improved. Recycling and waste to energy projects should be promoted. Green areas and urban forestry should be increased, plantations should be planted on roofs of houses, offices and buildings, green building ideas should be promoted. Apart from this, special treatment of diseases caused by smog and pollution and medical research on its effects should be invested in this sector.
Now it remains to be seen whether we will be able to clean up our environment a bit in this new year or will have to face an even worse situation.