Unfair Distribution of Global Warming Effects

Global climate change has been a serious threat to organisms on Earth for many years now. The levels of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere are well above natural levels. This is due to many issues including overpopulation, pollution, usage of fossil fuels, etc. The effects of global warming are apparent all over, but some countries are experiencing struggles that are already impacting their economy, health, agriculture, and all around well-being. In Emily Atkin's article, Climate Change Disproportionately Hurting Pakistan’s Women, Report Finds, she discusses some major issues and future implications of climate change on Pakistan. 

Pakistan is a developing country that naturally has a warm climate, making it more vulnerable and susceptible to climate change. Pakistan also has a history of severe monsoons and flooding, especially in the recent years of 2010 and 2011, which  damages crops and lessens the ability to use the land to produce more.  With rising temperatures, agricultural success is harder to achieve, less fresh water is available, there is less fuel wood and the Hindu Kush-Karakorum Himalayan Glaciers are beginning to melt. These major glaciers are a main source of water for the rivers in Pakistan and other surrounding countries. The melting of the glaciers will cause the frequency and severity of flooding in Pakistan to increase significantly and will eventually decrease the river flows as the glaciers recede. The travels to get fresh water are becoming longer and are having negative health effects on those, especially women, who have to travel to fetch the water. Pakistan, like many developing countries, is highly dependent on  farming and natural resources. Between 60 to 70% of the Pakistani population is dependent on the agricultural ecosystem to survive. Depleting sources of healthy soil and clean water, combined with the future increase of flooding and natural disasters, can be catastrophic not only to Pakistan's economy, but to the people living there as well. 

Although global climate change affects the entire planet, less developed countries will be the first to have detrimental issues due to the change because they are more dependent on natural resources and have less of an ability to adapt to the warming temperatures. In 2009, Pakistan emitted less than 1 metric ton of CO2 per capita and the US emitted 17.28 metric tons per capita. Although Pakistan is not contributing to global warming nearly as much as other countries, they are experiencing the effects in a more severe manor. Pakistan is only one example of the many places experiencing struggles due to global warming and can be used as a vague representation of what is happening and what could happen in other places.

Global warming is relevant to us all, and will eventually cause severe issues globally, but the people and the government should take steps now to reduce the severity of future affects. Just because we aren't experiencing obvious signs of global warming in the US doesn't mean we should take it less seriously. We should take the effects on Pakistan as an example, a warning, and an incentive to act now for the sake of our planet and the people, and other organisms, that inhabit it.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/29/3005311/climate-change-hurting-pakistans-women/