Karachi: Karachi may experience even hotter summers and slightly warmer winters in the upcoming years, warned the American University of Maryland. The report has also shown that the temperatures have increased as a result of climate change, a factor which has already had severe effects on the city starting from 2015.
The study predicts a significant 3. substantial increase in temperatures shortly, with research suggesting a rise of between five to six degrees Celsius in the next sixty years. What makes this trend not isolated to Karachi alone is that it is estimated that over four thousand cities around the globe will be affected by climate change.
The Pakistani cities recognized as being among the most susceptible to the impacts of climate change are Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta. As for the prospects, Karachi, for instance, risks transforming into 18. 2% less humid during summer and having winter conditions that are five degrees higher with as little as 0. undefined
Such comparisons made in the report mean that the future climate of Karachi might be similar to that of Al-Bahah city in Saudi Arabia which is characterized by a hot desert climate. Recent meteorological data paints a stark picture: Currently, Karachi has been experiencing temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius with a heat index of well over 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, the night of July 17 was the second in terms of temperature in the year, almost equal to the night of July 1st.
According to the Meteorological department, the average night temperature for July is usually at about 27. 9 degrees Celsius, the minimum temperature on July 17th was a rather high 32 degrees Celsius which is well above normal.
While Karachi faces these emerging climatic pressures, the relevant stakeholders and policymakers are called upon to embrace sustainable processes and response mechanisms that would help in reducing the effects of increasing temperatures.
