SOOT FROM diesel exhausts and
the burning of wood, agricultural waste and dung for heating and cooking causes
an estimated two million premature deaths a year, particularly in the poorest
countries. Scientists say that concerted action on these substances can reduce
global temperatures by 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2050 and prevent millions of cases
of lung and heart disease by 2030. There is no way to effectively address a
climate change without reducing carbon dioxide, the most dangerous, prevalent,
and persistent greenhouse gas. It stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
The year 2012 is expected to be around 0.48 °C warmer than the long-term
(1961-1990) global average of 14.0 °C, with a predicted range of between 0.34 °C
and 0.62 °C, according to the Met Office annual global temperature forecast. The
middle of this range would place 2012 within the top 10 warmest years in a
series which goes back to 1850. Greenhouse gases can stay in the atmosphere for
an amount of years ranging from decades to hundreds and thousands of years. No
matter what we do, global warming is going to have some effect on earth.
In February 2007, the UN released a scientific report that concludes that global
warming is happening and will continue to happen for centuries. The report also
stated with 90 per cent certainty that the activity of humans has been the
primary cause of increasing temperatures over the past few decades. This proved
with passage of time, average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit
(0.8 degree Celsius) around the world since 1880.
The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years. And the UN
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that 11 of the past 12
years are among the dozen warmest since 1850. Global emissions of carbon dioxide
in atmosphere from fossil fuel burning currently are approaching 7 billion tons
of carbon per annum. Carbon level is plying a notorious role in causing the
global warming.
According to the WFP, nearly half of Pakistan’s (180 million) people are at risk
of going short of food due to a recent surge in world food prices.
Air pollution has also become a major problem in most cities. There are no
controls on vehicular emissions, which account for 90 per cent of pollutants.
The National Conservation Strategy Report claims that the average Pakistani
vehicle emits 25 times as much carbon monoxide, 20 times as many hydrocarbons,
and more than three-and-a-half times as much nitrous oxide in grams per
kilometer as the average vehicle in US.
About three-quarters of the anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere during the past 20 years have been due to fossil-fuel burning.
Activities consuming fossil fuels include power generation,
industrial/manufacturing processes and transport. The rest of carbon dioxide
emissions are predominantly due to land-use change, especially deforestation.
According to latest reports millions of people in Pakistan are exposed to
dangerous levels of outdoor and indoor air pollution and vector-borne diseases
and millions of people suffer from diseases because of having no access to clean
air.
In Pakistan indoor air pollution alone is the reason for 30,000 child deaths per
year. In all major cities, airborne particulate matter exceeds safe levels and
causes some 22,700 deaths annually. The BBC states the country suffers from some
of the highest air pollution levels in the world. The emissions in the country
from industries, refineries, thermal power plants and vehicles all chip in to
heart disease, lung disorders and cancer.
Pakistan’s health indicators, health funding, and health and sanitation
infrastructure are generally poor, particularly in rural areas. About 19 per
cent of the population is malnourished a higher rate than the 17 percent average
for developing countries and 30 percent of children under age five are
malnourished. Leading causes of sickness and death include gastroenteritis,
respiratory infections, congenital abnormalities, tuberculosis, malaria, and
typhoid fever.
According to a WB report, Pakistan has responded to its environmental problems
by developing laws, establishing Government agencies and accepting technical
assistance from donors.
When solid waste is burnt, heavy metals like lead, toxic gases and smoke spread
over residential areas. The wind also carries waste, dust and gases caused by
decomposition.
In many cities there are no air quality regulations and, where they do exist,
national standards and their enforcement vary markedly. Across the country, city
air is often thick with exhaust fumes, factory smoke or soot from coal burning
power plants.
Pakistani nation is not a major pollution contributor compared to other Asian
countries. The majority of its people don’t destroy forests, don’t wipe out
endangered species, don’t pollute rivers and oceans, and emit essentially no
greenhouse gases. We believe that a smaller population would help us to preserve
the environment and live within the limit of renewable resources, as part of a
comprehensive approach to the environment and sustainability.
All possible measures need to be adopted. Special attention must be given to
health and hygienic conditions. If we monitor and manage the environment
properly, we can significantly reduce the number of people suffering from
respiratory and heart disease, and lung cancer. At the end, green living style
matters a lot its more near to nature and important most if number of plantation
increases it automatically clean air in their surroundings as trees called lungs
of environment and mechanically clean all types of pollutants.