School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210094, People's Republic of China.
School of Public Affairs, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Oct;26(30):31491-31507. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-06262-z. Epub 2019 Sep 2.
Climate change is a global challenge faced by everyone, but the developing countries are highly vulnerable to variations in the environment. This research focuses on the Punjab province of Pakistan and evaluates the impacts and consequences of climate change on general public at local and divisional level. In order to cope with the impacts of climatic changes at all levels, especially divisional level, raising reliable awareness and dispersing actionable knowledge regarding mitigating and adapting measures is significantly important. Therefore, recognition of information gaps, improvements in the level of alertness, and development of preventive measures in each sector is imperative. The impacts of climate change are observed across the country through gradual increase in temperature, human health issues, pest diseases, droughts, floods, and irregular weather patterns leading to changes in lifestyles, and these issues are likely to continue in the future. The main cause of climate change in Punjab, Pakistan, can be attributed to excessive release of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere due to human activities involving inefficient energy usage, rapid urban expansion, improper waste management, industrial development, increasing transportation, agricultural activities, and livestock mismanagement. The findings of this study revealed that transportation sector is the major source of GHG emissions in the country, followed by industrialization and waste, at national, as well as divisional, level. The extent of impacts of climate change at divisional level is distinguishable and displayed a direct relationship with climate, geography, variation of effects, and modes of production in various regions of Punjab. The study strategically investigated all nine divisions of the province for comprehensive understanding of climate change phenomenon, and the results indicated that nearly three-fourths of the respondents have never indulged in taking steps towards climate change mitigation and adaptation. The study adopted a mixed (qualitative and quantitative) approach where the findings can act as set of guidelines for governmental authorities in formulating, assisting in preparation, instructing, and guiding policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation at national, local, and divisional levels. Graphical abstract.
气候变化是每个人都面临的全球性挑战，但发展中国家对环境变化高度脆弱。本研究聚焦于巴基斯坦旁遮普省，评估气候变化对地方和省级普通公众的影响和后果。为了应对各级，特别是省级气候变化的影响，提高对减轻和适应措施的可靠认识并传播可操作的知识非常重要。因此，认识信息差距、提高警觉水平以及在每个部门制定预防措施至关重要。通过气温逐渐升高、人类健康问题、病虫害、干旱、洪水和不规则的天气模式导致生活方式发生变化，在全国范围内观察到气候变化的影响，这些问题在未来可能会继续存在。导致巴基斯坦旁遮普气候变化的主要原因是人类活动导致温室气体（GHG）过度排放到大气中，涉及能源使用效率低下、快速城市扩张、废物管理不当、工业发展、交通增加、农业活动和牲畜管理不善。本研究的结果表明，交通运输部门是该国温室气体排放的主要来源，其次是工业化和废物，在国家和省级层面均如此。气候变化对省级的影响程度是可区分的，并与各地区的气候、地理、影响变化和生产方式呈直接关系。该研究从战略上对该省的九个地区进行了全面调查，以全面了解气候变化现象，结果表明，近四分之三的受访者从未参与过采取措施减轻和适应气候变化。该研究采用了混合（定性和定量）方法，研究结果可以为政府当局制定、协助筹备、指导和指导国家、地方和省级气候变化减轻和适应政策提供一套准则。
