July and August typically bring high levels of rainfall across the country, and while flooding isn’t uncommon, the extent and severity could be readily predicted.

These patterns have now changed. In 2022, extreme rainfall swept through Pakistan and huge swathes of the country were under water. Sindh province experienced levels of rain 508% above average for the time of year. 

Extreme weather in Pakistan is becoming the norm. The past 15 years have brought widespread flooding, loss of life and billions in financial costs. A post-disaster report, produced by the Pakistan Government, stated that the 2022 floods were “a wake-up call for systemic changes to address the underlying vulnerabilities to natural hazards”, citing the country’s lack of climate-resilient infrastructure. 

But heavy rainfall is only one of the water-related issues that Pakistan faces. In a country with huge geographical diversity, from sweltering deserts to freezing mountain tops, the water stresses are equally as varied. In many regions the key concern is a lack of reliable, clean water that can be used to grow crops and feed families.

We must invest in early warning systems to tackle crises like Kenya’s drought

The risks of the Indus

The Indus River plays a critical role in Pakistan. This major artery travels almost the entire length of the country, an estimated 2,000 km, from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea. It is a crucial economic lever, supporting nearly 90% of Pakistan’s food production and 25% of its overall GDP. What happens to this river – both human and natural impacts – has huge consequences for the rest of the country.

The government and civil society agree that urgent action is required to protect Pakistan’s fragile water resources. A new adaptation project – SAFER Pakistan – is seeking to address these concerns with solutions that can be used to solve similar climate-related issues elsewhere.

The US$10 million project is led by ICIMOD, an intergovernmental research centre, alongside UNICEF, and financed by the Adaptation Fund. The intention is to tackle six key issues that people face in the Indus Basin: cryosphere risks, drying springs, groundwater, pollution, unsustainable water use, and community resilience.

In practice this means exploring different solutions that put communities in control of their own adaptive capacity. One solution under development is the use of community early warning systems.

Pakistan’s ‘monster disaster’ brings climate compensation into focus

A warning sign

According to researchers, early warning systems “aim to empower affected communities against hazards and help them to sufficiently prepare before disasters strike.” 

The northern provinces of Pakistan – Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – are the main focus for testing these systems. In this mountainous region the Indus is fed by thousands of glaciers which sustain water flow during the dry season. At the same time, increased temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are changing how these glaciers behave, leading to avalanches, increased snowmelt, and landslides.

As glaciers start to melt due to climate change, they can form large lakes high up on the mountain that can pose a serious threat to the communities living below. When these natural dams fail, huge quantities of water come careening down the mountain, a phenomenon called glacial lake outburst flood.

The SAFER project is exploring how to use local knowledge and observations of the mountain to ensure people know how and when to evacuate when these outbursts occur. This human intelligence will be combined with data from remote sensors to save lives and livelihoods. In total, over 435,000 people will be impacted by the project.

“Early warning systems often serve as the backbone of a multi-faceted response to reduce climate disaster risk,” commented Mikko Ollikainen, head of the Adaptation Fund. “But local information is often just as valuable as the real-time data you receive from sensors or satellites,” he added.

Climate disasters challenge right to safe and adequate housing

Shaping an effective response

Community early warning systems – together with other preventive adaptation measures – are proving a popular solution to extreme weather events. 

A separate adaptation project in the mountains of Central Asia is grappling with the same problem of glacial flooding. In this case, with US$6.5 million in funding from the Adaptation Fund, UNESCO has been implementing early warning systems across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for the past five years, with considerable success.

Diana Aripkhanova, a project officer at UNESCO, and based in Kazakhstan, told Climate Home that glacier lake outburst floods “represent an increasing climate-related hazard across the high mountain regions of Central Asia”.

“These events can trigger destructive floods and debris flows that affect downstream communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods,” she added.

The project utilises real-time data drawn from weather monitoring stations with community preparedness to shape a fast and effective response to life-threatening flooding. This includes training people on evacuation routes, safe locations and simulation drills. In addition, the project has tried preventative measures such as planting hundreds of trees in valleys prone to landslides to provide greater stabilisation.

In total, four early warning systems have been installed across the four countries involved in the project covering seven high-risk areas. As a result, UNESCO estimates these systems are protecting over 100,000 people.

“Early warning systems are a key risk reduction measure, allowing communities to evacuate in time and reduce potential loss of life and damage to assets,” added Aripkhanova.

Community participation

The active role of each community is built into these interventions. Ensuring local people are core contributors is seen as crucial to building long-term climate resilience.

These communities are witnessing the threats from climate change materialise on a yearly basis, and researchers are now tapping into that understanding when implementing adaptation projects. 

After the 2022 floods, Pakistan’s development minister, Ahsan Iqbal, wrote that “there is an opportunity to do things differently” and that “enhancing Pakistan’s resilience to shocks and stresses amidst climate change, especially for the poorest…is essential for the country’s future.”

The climate shocks remain as strong as ever, but using the right tools and simple solutions can soften the blow when they occur.

Adam Wentworth is a freelancer writer based in Brighton, UK

The post Early warning systems are saving lives in Central Asia appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Developing countries need support adapting to deadly heat appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post UN budget cuts hindered response to Pakistan’s extreme floods appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post World Bank adaptation funds slept through Pakistan’s record flooding appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Donors pledge over $8bn to rebuild Pakistan after floods – official appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Funds for Pakistan flood relief come too little, too late appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistani prime minister promises compensation to flood victims appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan floods must be a wake up call on climate action appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post UN seeks $160 million in emergency aid for Pakistan floods appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan struggles to rebuild after deadly flash floods appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan’s tree-planting ambition in doubt after Imran Khan’s exit appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Five WWF Pakistan staff monitoring forest protection die in car crash appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan explores debt-for-nature scheme to accelerate its 10 billion tree tsunami appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan signals coal power exit, in potential model for China’s belt and road appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan to apply strict green rules on Chinese coal deals: Imran Khan advisor appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Imran Khan says Pakistan will plant 10 billion trees appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistani senator calls for climate cooperation with India amid water crisis appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post China kickstarting new coal boom in Pakistan appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Green Climate Fund talks ‘hijacked’ by India-Pakistan conflict appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post China cuts pollution at home, grows coal abroad appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Climate change raises conflict risk in South Asia, warn experts appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan unveils plan to tackle looming water crisis appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan signs coal mining deals with China appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan PM delays climate pledge over provincial rivalries appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan ordered to enforce climate law by Lahore court appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan frontier province targets carbon neutrality by 2018 appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan blocks calls to phase out super-warming HFCs appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan, Bangladesh face ‘state failure’ as globe heats up appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan policies to tackle climate a ‘joke’, says Imran Khan appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan and India ‘unprepared’ for heatwaves appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan to set up carbon markets to cut emissions, lure investment appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan opens 100MW solar plant, govt plans clean energy drive appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Fear of floods and droughts dominate Pakistan climate plan appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan shelves six coal-fired power projects appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Climate change blamed as erratic downpours hit Pakistan’s harvests appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan plans special force to protect forests from timber mafia appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post After the floods, India investigates climate change links appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan’s coal-based economy could suffer after climate deal appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan poorly prepared for climate impacts says former minister appeared first on Climate Home News.

The post Pakistan faces ‘environmental cataclysm’ warn officials appeared first on Climate Home News.