Saifullah Sani
SENIOR MEMBER
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- Apr 15, 2011
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Pakistan
Pakistanis, in contrast to their counterparts across the region, feel that their lives have got worse. People living in large cities are most concerned about a lack of electricity and fuel, while lack of food is the biggest concern for people in rural areas.
Confidence in government is very low, and Pakistanis feel that the government doesn’t listen to the needs of its people. Inflation is high and people are feeling pressure on their household incomes.
These difficulties have been aggravated by changes in climate. People across Pakistan are experiencing unpredictable rainfall, increased temperatures and changes to the seasons. Other changes vary by region, such as increased rainfall and extreme weather events in Sindh and decreased rainfall in Balochistan. People feel that the environment has also changed, with pests such as mosquitos increasing and trees being cut down.
The impacts of these changes include a reduction in crop productivity forcing some rural communities either to change livelihoods or buy food that they cannot afford. People have health concerns such as increases in infectious diseases.
Compared with the other countries in this study, people in Pakistan feel most strongly that these changes are having a high level of impact on their lives now.
This feeling has driven Pakistanis to act. Their biggest motivator is the need to survive. Knowing that government support will be limited, they have started to take action themselves by working together in their communities or through the support of NGOs. Information is also playing a role in equipping people to act. Those who feel more informed are adapting more to the changes. However, those without access to resources, relevant information or community support are not able to cope and feel helpless.
India
Shortage of water is the big concern for people. In all the states surveyed people noticed decreases in water availability and are worried about not having enough clean drinking water. These water shortages are leading to crops failing, increased expenses due to having to buy more fertilisers and more health concerns. The majority thought that water shortage was caused by changes in weather.
Across all the states that we surveyed – Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and the city of Mumbai – people also felt that temperatures have increased and that rainfall had reduced and become more unpredictable.
While some people are taking action, many who are experiencing the impact of these climatic changes are not adapting their practices nor willing to act in the future. They feel that the government should support them more and that there is nothing they do as individuals that can resolve this problem. Their lack of willingness to respond contrasts with the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal where people feel more responsibility to take action and think their actions will make a difference.
In India, people living in the cities and who have more financial resources are taking more action, as are those who feel they can make decisions as a community and feel more informed.
There are differences in how people are responding by state. For example, people in Madhya Pradesh are struggling; they are experiencing lack of water, have little confidence in the government and feel that they can’t make a difference and the government should support them more. In contrast, people in Odisha are adapting more; they have a high level of awareness of the issues and know how to respond. Here they are taking both small actions, such as making water safer to drink, and long-term actions such as using renewable energy or improving irrigation.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and has a history of cyclones and floods.
People are experiencing higher temperatures, lower rainfall and less predictable weather compared with 10 years ago. These changes are having an impact on livelihoods and health. At the same time, only 25% feel prepared for extreme weather events.
People feel that the effects of these changes are being exacerbated by human activity such as population growth and the use of fertilisers.
Bangladeshis in Dhaka, where over a third of residents have arrived in the last five years, are finding life tougher than those in small cities who have access to more resources and facilities. They are struggling with water shortages, hot temperatures and an increase in health problems.
People feel that they need to take responsibility and adapt to these changes. Many have made changes to their livelihoods – migrating, supplementing their income in different ways or growing different crops.
Extensive media discussion and NGO intervention has led to a high level of awareness and knowledge of the term climate change.
China
A higher proportion of people in China feel life has improved in the last five years than in any other of the Climate Asia countries. People are enjoying increases in income and access to food, water and energy. But alongside this dramatic recent development, people have become very concerned about pollution’s effect on their health.
Across the regions surveyed, Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong, people have seen increases in temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events. But far fewer people are experiencing high levels of impact as a result of these changes in climate than in other countries. In addition, fewer people expect to experience high levels in future.
Knowledge and understanding of climate change is high in comparison to other countries in the region. Many Chinese people are taking small actions to alter their personal contribution to climate change – for instance through efficient use of energy and using renewable energy.
for other Countries BBC - Climate Asia - Home
Pakistanis, in contrast to their counterparts across the region, feel that their lives have got worse. People living in large cities are most concerned about a lack of electricity and fuel, while lack of food is the biggest concern for people in rural areas.
Confidence in government is very low, and Pakistanis feel that the government doesn’t listen to the needs of its people. Inflation is high and people are feeling pressure on their household incomes.
These difficulties have been aggravated by changes in climate. People across Pakistan are experiencing unpredictable rainfall, increased temperatures and changes to the seasons. Other changes vary by region, such as increased rainfall and extreme weather events in Sindh and decreased rainfall in Balochistan. People feel that the environment has also changed, with pests such as mosquitos increasing and trees being cut down.
The impacts of these changes include a reduction in crop productivity forcing some rural communities either to change livelihoods or buy food that they cannot afford. People have health concerns such as increases in infectious diseases.
Compared with the other countries in this study, people in Pakistan feel most strongly that these changes are having a high level of impact on their lives now.
This feeling has driven Pakistanis to act. Their biggest motivator is the need to survive. Knowing that government support will be limited, they have started to take action themselves by working together in their communities or through the support of NGOs. Information is also playing a role in equipping people to act. Those who feel more informed are adapting more to the changes. However, those without access to resources, relevant information or community support are not able to cope and feel helpless.
India
Shortage of water is the big concern for people. In all the states surveyed people noticed decreases in water availability and are worried about not having enough clean drinking water. These water shortages are leading to crops failing, increased expenses due to having to buy more fertilisers and more health concerns. The majority thought that water shortage was caused by changes in weather.
Across all the states that we surveyed – Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and the city of Mumbai – people also felt that temperatures have increased and that rainfall had reduced and become more unpredictable.
While some people are taking action, many who are experiencing the impact of these climatic changes are not adapting their practices nor willing to act in the future. They feel that the government should support them more and that there is nothing they do as individuals that can resolve this problem. Their lack of willingness to respond contrasts with the neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal where people feel more responsibility to take action and think their actions will make a difference.
In India, people living in the cities and who have more financial resources are taking more action, as are those who feel they can make decisions as a community and feel more informed.
There are differences in how people are responding by state. For example, people in Madhya Pradesh are struggling; they are experiencing lack of water, have little confidence in the government and feel that they can’t make a difference and the government should support them more. In contrast, people in Odisha are adapting more; they have a high level of awareness of the issues and know how to respond. Here they are taking both small actions, such as making water safer to drink, and long-term actions such as using renewable energy or improving irrigation.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change and has a history of cyclones and floods.
People are experiencing higher temperatures, lower rainfall and less predictable weather compared with 10 years ago. These changes are having an impact on livelihoods and health. At the same time, only 25% feel prepared for extreme weather events.
People feel that the effects of these changes are being exacerbated by human activity such as population growth and the use of fertilisers.
Bangladeshis in Dhaka, where over a third of residents have arrived in the last five years, are finding life tougher than those in small cities who have access to more resources and facilities. They are struggling with water shortages, hot temperatures and an increase in health problems.
People feel that they need to take responsibility and adapt to these changes. Many have made changes to their livelihoods – migrating, supplementing their income in different ways or growing different crops.
Extensive media discussion and NGO intervention has led to a high level of awareness and knowledge of the term climate change.
China
A higher proportion of people in China feel life has improved in the last five years than in any other of the Climate Asia countries. People are enjoying increases in income and access to food, water and energy. But alongside this dramatic recent development, people have become very concerned about pollution’s effect on their health.
Across the regions surveyed, Beijing, Sichuan and Guangdong, people have seen increases in temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events. But far fewer people are experiencing high levels of impact as a result of these changes in climate than in other countries. In addition, fewer people expect to experience high levels in future.
Knowledge and understanding of climate change is high in comparison to other countries in the region. Many Chinese people are taking small actions to alter their personal contribution to climate change – for instance through efficient use of energy and using renewable energy.
for other Countries BBC - Climate Asia - Home
