Challenges and Possibilities for Environmental Sustainability with a Focus on Pakistan
May 14, 2024
The contamination degree by heavy metals of contamination hotspots were analysed by the values of Pollution Load Index (PLI). The PLI values for River Swat showed a trend of pollution as Downstream>Upstream. The upstream control point showed negligible pollution while the downstream of both rivers showed high PLI values ranging from 29-1400 indicating “Very High contamination”.
Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Lahore had been subjected to extreme floods in the past due to high discharge in Ravi River during monsoon season. The flood of 1955 was the second highest on record flood for the Ravi River, which breached two flood embankments at Bambanwala upstream from Ravi Siphon, and at Shahdara Bridge. Recorded data showed that the flood of 1988, with flood flows of 16,309 cumecs (575,941 cusecs) at Shahdara, was the worst flood in Ravi River.
Flood flow modeling is imperative to perform for the safety of new city. Flood flow modeling is widely used for estimating flood risk using best fit distributions in the river. These distributions may include Gumbel, Pearson or Lognormal distributions. The model is used to estimate maximum flooding in Ravi River. Data used in this study is recorded flood flows, DEM and river cross sections. This study will be useful to find the flood risk for the urban development especially the RUDA project which will spread across 46 kilometers along Ravi River.
Sewage Sludge and Wastewater for Nitrogen Circular Economy: Opportunities and Challenges
Muhammad Riaz and Maryium Adil
The global production of waste is estimated to be 3.5 million Mg each day with projections to be doubled and tripled by 2050 and 2100, respectively. Utilization of sewage sludge through circular economy approaches offer a valuable and sustainable sewage sludge management. Sewage sludge has witnessed a profound transformation from being treated as a waste that affects society towards being regarded as a value-added product that may be utilized to generate energy and used to fertilize agricultural production systems, both as a source for the recovery of key nutrient elements. Approximately 50% of sewage sludge is added to agricultural soil in the European Union whereas 28% is being incinerated and 18% ends up in landfills. Presence of macro-nutrients (N, P & K), micro-nutrients and organic matter makes sewage sludge a highly viable option alternative and/ or supportive of mineral fertilizers in agricultural production. However, sewage sludge contains a range of harmful contaminants such as organic (dioxins along with polychlorinated biphenyls, pharmaceutical residues, pathogens, and other per-fluorinated surfactants) inorganic (heavy metals) toxicants, which limit the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer. Moreover, the deleterious effects of heavy metals and/or organic pollutants become more magnified during the sewage sludge pretreatment and dewatering stage. Thermal treatment methods can recover energy and eliminate toxicants but can destroy valuable nutrients. Pyrolysis has appeared as a potential and cost-effective alternative method of managing sewage sludge that converts sewage sludge into biochar and biochar-compost mixtures. Sewage sludge biochar not only enhances soil fertility and soil health, but also tends to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming. Biochar improves microbiome, soil pH, soil organic matter, soil fertility, moisture retention, soil aggregate stability, and carbon sequestration. Value-added products from sewage sludge includes biochar, biochar-compost and biochar-organic-inorganic fertilizer mixtures with a view to improve nitrogen recovery and subsequent fertilization of the soils. Thus, sewage sludge biochar has great potential in nitrogen, and also phosphorus circular economy. However, scalability of biochar production from sewage sludge, societal perception on the use of sewage sludge biochar, socio-economics costs and legislative framework remains the biggest challenge for nitrogen circular economy from sewage sludge and its value-added products.<p>
Climate Change Agreements and their Implication on the Exploitation of Thar Coal
Abrar Ahmad and Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change and its goal is to limit global warming to well below to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. In order to achieve these objectives Pakistan has submitted an over ambitious NDCs plan 2021 and to set a cumulative conditional target of overall 50% reduction of its projected emissions by 2030. Regarding the utilization of coal, it is stated “from 2020 onwards, new coal power plants are banned and no generation of power through imported coal shall be allowed, shelving plans for two new coal fired power plants in favor of hydroelectric power and focusing on coal gasification and liquefaction for indigenous coal”. The question is, why the government of Pakistan has voluntarily imposed ban on the utilization of coal for power generation when our share of global carbon emission is only 0.87% and there is no binding under climate change agreement to cease utilization of coal for power generation. Pakistan has only eight coal generation plants and its share in power generation is 17.2% while our neighboring counties, India and China have 282 and 1142 coal power plants and their share in power generation is 75 % and 61 % respectively. Considering their energy needs highly environmentally sensitive European countries like Germany, Austria, France, UK and the Netherlands have adopted plans of coal power generation. UK has opened its old coal mine after 30yr and the construction of coal based power plants is in progress in India and China.
Coal gasification and liquefaction are good ideas and innovative techniques for the use of coal but not at the cost of coal fired power plants because of availability of its technical expertise locally and due to urgency of our energy requirements. Pilot liquefaction and surface gasification projects should be initiated to assess the suitability of coal, technology requirements and its commerciality. As of today we have plan only to exploit, blocks I & IV which is 3% of Thar Coal field reserves and we fear that we will not be able to use the rest of the Thar coal due to the erroneous decisions, unrealistic planning and unnecessary international commitments. It is, therefore, strongly suggested to initiate construction of coal fired power plants on urgent basis and revise our Nationally Determined Contribution.
Understanding Climate Change in the Hindu Kush Range: Perceptions and Adaptation Strategies of Local Communities in Pakistan
Uzma Saeed
The communities of Chitral Valley, in the Hindu Kush Range of Pakistan, heavily rely on the natural resource base adversely affected by human activities and climatic changes. This study analyzed the communities’ perceptions of climate change and the resulting adaptation strategies using the WWFUS climate crowd approach and statistical techniques such as the chi-square test and counting and frequency distributions. We found a significant difference in communities’ perceptions about the biggest changes in weather and climatic hazards observed over the past 10-20 years, such as the hotter temperatures (66%), less rainfall (87%), delayed rainy season (39%), less rainfall in summer (45%), less snowfall in mid-winter (53%), more glacier melt (50%), more frequent flooding events (47%), more frequent drought events (50%), and significantly increased pest attacks (58%). These findings complement the meteorological record of Chitral Valley for the temperature and rainfall, which indicates an increase of 0.32ºC on average per decade between 1973 and 2022 and a gradual decrease in the amount of precipitation. These climatic changes are the main driving factors impacting the livelihoods of mountain communities through reduced crop yield and livestock rearing, water scarcity, pastureland productivity, increased health expenses, low business, and increased disease in humans and livestock. The communities have employed several adaptation strategies, including water management, changing crop types, infrastructure development, institutional supports, migration, livelihood diversification, and transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy for domestic use. The human-wildlife conflict heavily impacts apex predator loss, such as the snow leopard. The government should provide accessible livelihood means, market access, knowledge, and information on climate change and facilitate the ability of local communities to adapt to and withstand climate shocks and natural hazards.
Spatiotemporal Clustering, Hotspot Analysis and Fire Risk Assessment in the Northern Region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan
Rida Naseer, Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhary and Salman Tariq
The increasing incidents of forest fires in Pakistan are alarming for the forest ecosystem and human society. Pakistan has a scarce forest area, out of which 40% of the forest wealth lies in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. This study analyzes the active fires from 2001 to 2022 in the northern region of KPK to evaluate the hazards of forest fires. To understand the spread of fire events descriptive statistics were used and Getis-Ord G hotspot analysis was performed to outline the spatial pattern displayed by the fire occurrences. Kernel density estimation was used to analyze the probability distribution of fire events. Assessment of the spatiotemporal clustering of fire points and the study of space-time interaction was done using the K function. MODIS data obtained from FIRMS revealed 1830 fire points in the study area. The statistical analysis revealed that a peak (10.32%) of fire events was recorded in 2016 and fires are mostly observed in the months of May, June and July. Most fires (57.14%) that occurred in northern KPK had a radiative power with less intensity, displaying a mean value of 21.55 Mega Watts. The hotspot region for active fires was identified in the South-Eastern part of the study area concentrated around Buner, Swabi, Mansehra, Haripur and Abbottabad. Our results will help the decision-makers better understand the hotspot regions for fires leading them to take proactive steps over time and space to minimize and control damage caused by the increasing fire events.
Impact of Sahiwal Coal Power Plant on Environment with Special Reference to Health and Safety
Mohammad Rafiq Khan
Secondary data was compiled from articles on coal-fired power plants available in technical libraries and on Internet and from periodical reports available with the players in the field while the primary data was collected taking responses from concerned officials against well designed pre-tested questionnaires on and against structured interviews. The collected data were computed and analyzed, applying Google.com software. The results showed that, the plant has extensively damaged the environment of the plant and the economic condition of the locals in its vicinity.
Estimation and Health Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu And Ni) In Children Toys
Wajeeha Wajid, Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry and Dr Naqi Hussain
The potential risk that heavy metals cause during the early stages of childhood development makes it a global health concern. Main aim of this study is to determine the concentration of cadmium, chromium, nickel copper, and chromium (VI) to carry out dose response assessment, evaluating questionnaire responses given by children’s parents in Lahore, Pakistan and calculating hazard quotient (HQ) in order to evaluate whether concentrations are above or below permissible limit. The concentrations detected by AAS in digested samples ranged from 83.7 mg/kg to -0.087 mg/kg for Cd, 806 mg/kg to -0.05 mg/kg for Cr (VI), 1001 mg/kg to -0.008 mg/kg for Pb, 822 mg/kg to -0.07 mg/kg for Cu, and 3000 mg/kg to -0.9 mg/kg for Ni. 40% samples for Cd, 5% samples for Cr (VI), 55% samples for Pb, and 5% samples for Ni exceeded the EU limit. Based on the HQ values detected, trend of concentration of heavy metals exceeding EU regulations was Pb > Cd > Cr (VI) > Ni. Copper did not exceed any regulation yet present in considerable amount of samples. On the basis of data from questionnaire responses and dose response assessment using hazard quotient, heavy metal poisoning has been confirmed as a significant hazard due to the fact that there are a number of health problems linked with it. Once heavy metals get into the living organisms, and the organism is exposed many times, heavy metals are bio accumulated and hence can be harmful to mental health and functioning of the central nervous system.
Development as if environment does not matter!
Anis Alam
Despite irrefutable evidence piling up every-day that fossil fuel use is causing catastrophic climate change, fossil fuel use continues to rise. Largest global investors continue to invest in fossil fuels businesses; exploration, exploitation, transport, distribution. Fossil fuel companies, some of the largest global multinationals continue to reap extravagant profits. Capital needs to grow irrespective of consequences to the rest of the world. Unless public pressure forces the capital to divest from fossil fuels businesses and invest in activities facilitating the general public and healthy environment.
Thar: Diversity or Monoculture
Munir Ghazanfar, Rabia Nadir and Soha Bashir
Primitive societies have great sociological value because they act as a control to assess the gains and losses arising from modern material changes in the life of the people. Thar is a low latitude sand desert located in the extreme southeast of the province of Sindh, Pakistan. During a recent exploratory visit to Thar, we were struck by the markedly different terrain and vegetation, exotic conical thatched huts, a home grown diet of millet, gwar (cluster beans), other pods and plenty of dairy products, and freely roaming livestock representing a vastly different ecosystem. Our vision of Thar had come from mainstream media, which has over time built a startling picture of impoverishment; malnutrition among people and cattle dying of hunger and thirst as they moved north towards irrigated barrage areas to escape the dystopian condition of droughts. Such visions have generated need for intervention, for immediate help and long term development. A road network has been constructed after 1987 and extension of the market economy. Along with that acquisition of land for mining of coal and construction of powerhouses injected cash into the economy, and has helped create inequality and promote urbanization and migration. Across the country, rural areas are following the pattern of cities which in turn aim to copy the West in food, housing, transport, everything. During our visit we found the rural Thar on the other hand still had independence represented by food autonomy, self-made environment-friendly housing, local biofuels, judicious water consumption, a general freedom from disease and a life without electricity bills. They had local transport of camels and donkeys though this too has been by and large replaced now by a road network and motorized transport. The envisioned dystopian reality of a primitive Thar could be more aptly applied to the emerging actual reality of developed rural areas where jobs and wages have shifted to urban areas, nothing remains free, while insecurity and disease are spreading fast. Thar represents the cultural diversity of Pakistan. Diversity is the basis of sustainability. There is a need to preserve diversity not destroy it. Finally, there is the need to talk of the role of the 4th largest coal reserve discovered in Thar. Coal is a pot of gold discovered in a poor household who would not be allowed to benefit from it. In all likelihood the high priced electricity from Thar will bypass Tharis just as Sui gas bypassed the Baloch people of Sui, and the real benefit will go to the foreign and local owners of thermal power plants.
A one-week visit was too short but we have brought back some debateable questions. Is Thar impoverished? What is impoverishment? Does the mainly pastoral subsistence society of Thar need to be replaced by cash based market society? The road network and link to Karachi has promoted emigration to metropolitan areas and opportunities for higher education, how will that transform the pastoral society and their associated livelihoods, food, health, and family? Millions of people and livestock of primitive Thar have subsisted on their limited water, agriculture and desert grasses and scrub on hundreds if not thousands of years but development capitalism is at the door, can Thar say, No.
Advancing Environmental Sustainability through Policy, Governance, and Education: A Comprehensive Review in the Context of Pakistan
Sara Ali
Like many other countries, Pakistan faces formidable environmental challenges ranging from air and water pollution to deforestation and climate change impacts. These challenges necessitate a multifaceted approach encompassing robust environmental policy frameworks, effective governance mechanisms, and comprehensive education initiatives. In this comprehensive review, we delve into the interplay between environmental policy, governance, and education in Pakistan, highlighting the importance of each component and exploring strategies to enhance their effectiveness in promoting environmental sustainability. Environmental Policy in Pakistan: Environmental policy in Pakistan has evolved over the years, responding to the country’s changing environmental landscape and growing awareness of environmental issues. The Environmental Protection Act of 1997 is the cornerstone of environmental legislation, providing the legal framework for environmental protection and management. Subsequent policies and regulations have addressed issues such as air and water quality, solid waste management, and biodiversity conservation. Despite the existence of these policies, challenges persist in their implementation and enforcement. Weak enforcement mechanisms, inadequate resources, and institutional capacity constraints hinder the effective implementation of environmental regulations. Moreover, policy coherence and coordination among different sectors still need to be improved, leading to fragmented approaches to environmental management. To address these challenges, there is a need for comprehensive policy reforms that strengthen enforcement mechanisms, enhance coordination among relevant stakeholders, and mainstream environmental considerations across different sectors. Additionally, policies should be informed by scientific evidence and stakeholder input to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in addressing Pakistan’s environmental challenges. Environmental Governance in Pakistan: Environmental governance refers to the structures, processes, and mechanisms through which environmental policies are formulated, implemented, and enforced. In Pakistan, environmental governance involves various government agencies, regulatory bodies, civil society organizations, and local communities. While Pakistan has made strides in establishing institutional frameworks for environmental governance, significant gaps and challenges persist. Weak institutional capacity, limited resources, and bureaucratic hurdles hinder effective governance and enforcement of environmental regulations. Moreover, corruption and lack of transparency further undermine governance efforts, leading to more robust accountability mechanisms. To strengthen environmental governance in Pakistan, efforts are needed to enhance institutional capacity, streamline regulatory processes, and promote transparency and accountability. Building the capacity of regulatory agencies, investing in training programs for government officials, and leveraging technology for monitoring and enforcement can help overcome governance challenges. Additionally, fostering greater collaboration and partnership between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector is crucial for promoting collective action and achieving meaningful progress in environmental governance. Environmental Education in Pakistan: Environmental education is crucial in raising awareness, building capacity, and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship among the populace. In Pakistan, environmental education efforts must be more cohesive and sufficient, with limited integration into the formal education system and outreach programs. Integrating environmental education into the national curriculum at all levels of education is essential for promoting environmental literacy and fostering sustainable behaviors. By incorporating environmental concepts, issues, and solutions into various subjects, schools can equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values to address environmental challenges effectively. Beyond formal education, there is a need for comprehensive outreach programs and community engagement initiatives to reach broader segments of the population. Public awareness campaigns, workshops, and community-based projects can empower individuals and communities to take proactive steps towards environmental conservation and sustainable development. Furthermore, leveraging digital platforms and technology can enhance the reach and impact of environmental education initiatives. Interactive multimedia resources, online courses, and mobile applications can provide accessible and engaging learning and knowledge-sharing platforms. Conclusion: In conclusion, advancing environmental sustainability in Pakistan requires a concerted effort to strengthen environmental policy, governance, and education. Comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced governance mechanisms, and widespread environmental education initiatives are essential for addressing the country’s environmental challenges and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. Collaboration and partnership among government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector are critical for driving progress and achieving tangible results in environmental sustainability. By addressing the interrelated components of policy, governance, and education, Pakistan can pave the way toward a more sustainable and resilient future for its people and the planet.
ChatGPT and the future of Impact Assessment
Mehreen Khan and Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry
Like all other fields, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to affect the Impact Assessment (IA) systems worldwide. This study explores the opinions and concerns of international IA experts regarding how ChatGPT may change the future of IA in terms of the benefits and threats it may pose to IA. 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with IA experts including consultants, regulators and professors. The experts believed that ChatGPT will help reduce the time and effort required for preliminary data collection and will improve the report quality in terms of formatting and sentence structure etc. However, they also feared that the quality of data in reports and public involvement in IA process may be compromised, chances of plagiarism and bias may increase, and the quality of IA graduates produced by academic institutions may deteriorate. Majority of the experts were afraid that ChatGPT will pose more threats to IA compared to the benefits it may offer. The policy makers, while keeping all these concerns in mind, need to formulate laws, rules and guidelines regarding the use of ChatGPT in IA in their respective jurisdictions as suggested by the interviewees. Importantly, the International Association for Impact Assessment is also preparing international best practice principles for the use of AI in IA. These will serve as guidelines for different countries. Future studies may be conducted to evaluate and compare the use of different types of chatbots such as Google’s Bard or Microsoft’s Bing in IA. Additionally, AI related laws and guidelines drafted by IA systems across the globe and their implementation may be evaluated a couple of years later.
Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Green Energy in Pakistan
Abdullah Yasar, Iqra Wasif, Amtul Bari Tabinda
Government College University, Lahore Pakistan’s energy sector has been plagued by an intricate combination of difficulties, ranging from persistent power shortages to unstable prices and periodic crises. Throughout the years, the nation has struggled with an energy situation marked by a significant dependence on fossil fuels, insufficient infrastructure, and an increasing disparity between demand and supply. These variables have led to a succession of energy crises, which have had consequences for economic growth, social stability, and environmental sustainability. Throughout history, thermal power plants, which encompass both oil and gas-fired facilities, have been the primary source of energy, playing a substantial role in electricity production. The 2022 annual report by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) reveals that Pakistan’s overall power generation capacity is 43,775 MW. Among this capacity, thermal sources (fossil fuels) contribute 59%, hydro sources contribute 25%, renewable sources (wind, solar, and biomass) contribute 7%, and nuclear sources contribute 9%. In 2022, Pakistan’s primary energy production reached 1.978 quadrillion Btu, while consumption stood at 3.514 quadrillion Btu. As a result, domestic production accounted for 56.3% of primary energy consumption, indicating a significant reliance on energy imports. According to the Statistical Review of World Energy 2022, Pakistan’s primary energy consumption in 2021 totaled 3.86 exajoules, with gas being the dominant source at 41.7%, followed by oil at 26.4%, coal at 17.4%, hydroelectricity at 9.35%, nuclear at 3.6%, and other renewables at 1.3%. The nation’s reliance on imported fossil fuels for generating electricity has made it vulnerable to price volatility in the international market, resulting in difficulties in controlling energy expenses and guaranteeing affordability for consumers. Nevertheless, Pakistan encounters challenges related to pricing and crisis situations as a result of the unpredictable changes in global oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and uncertainty in domestic policies. To overcome these difficulties, it is necessary to implement policy reforms, prioritizing diversification, promoting energy efficiency, and fostering a conducive regulatory environment. Abdullah Yasar is a civil engineer with M.Sc and PhD in environmental Science. Presently he is Director of the Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC) Government College University (GCU), Lahore. He has twenty-six years of experience in teaching and research. He has executed six research projects funded by Higher Education Commission and GC University. He is reviewer of seven international journals and member of more than ten committees in university/Punjab Govt. Convener special committee for the development of new campus at 367 acres of land. He has more than hundred, publications including sixty-five, research publications in high impact factor (Total Impact Factor >105) international journals on water, wastewater treatment, air pollution, waste to energy and other environmental & social issues. He has supervised 48 BSc (Hons), 65 M.Phil. and 4 PhD theses. He is contributor to five book chapters, editor of two international conference proceedings and author of two national documents; 1. Scoping of Industrial Common Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pakistan as National expert for the scoping mission of KFW German Development Bank 2. National Guideline for Setting up Common Effluent Treatment Plants in industrial estates of Punjab Pakistan. A complete book for the consortium of Pakistan German Textile Cluster, GIZ, SIA, Punjab Industrial Estate Management Company and Environment Protection Department Government of the Punjab Pakistan.
Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Food Systems
Nadia Ayub, Shemrez Nauman Afzal
Like many poverty-stricken countries, agriculture has been the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. The agricultural sector provides employment for approximately 25 million people in Pakistan, being the main income source for 34% and 74% of economically active men and women, respectively, in the country. At the same time, Pakistan is acutely impacted by climate change, and is ranked as the 12th most vulnerable country due to impacts of climate change on agriculture. This is despite the fact that Pakistan contributes a minuscule proportion of global CO2 and GHG emissions. GHG emissions from the extensive use of fossil fuels is presumably the chief cause of Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate shocks, due the effect of GHG vis retaining heat in the upper atmosphere. The agriculture and livestock sectors contributed approximately 40% of Pakistan’s total GHG emissions in 201718: a large proportion of these emissions were methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), originating mainly from enteric fermentation in cattle (all in the form of methane), rice cultivation, and release of N2O from agricultural soils/nitrous fertilizer and manure management. Pakistan has witnessed 152 extreme weather events from 1998 to 2018, resulting in the loss of 9,989 lives and economic losses worth $3.8 billion. Over these years, the occurrence of major floods has increased in Pakistan. The catastrophic floods of summer 2022, as Pakistan was attempting to recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in nearly one-third of the country being submerged under water, directly affecting no less than 33 million people of whom nearly 8 million people became internally displaced. The scale of the destruction caused in 2022 is unprecedented, far exceeding damages registered from the 2010 floods: total damage assessments are estimated at PKR 3.2 trillion (US$14.9 billion). Overall decline in GDP, as a direct impact of the floods, is projected to be around 2.2 percent of FY22 GDP. Moreover, agriculture sector value-added production is projected to decline the most at 0.9 percent of FY22 GDP, with floods causing the most losses to cotton, dates, sugarcane, and rice crops. Approximately 1 million livestock are estimated to have perished in the 2022 floods. This exorbitant deterioration in Pakistan’s agricultural sector is also expected to cause detrimental impacts on the country’s industrial and services sectors as well. Within this context, this working paper focuses on sustainable development through effective and efficient natural resource management in Pakistan, in order to build a conceptual framework for climate-smart and resilient agriculture to develop sustainable food systems in Pakistan and to ensure food security for the people of Pakistan. This working paper also aims to address salient dimension of Pakistan’s agronomy, including the role of gender dynamics, to propose a mechanism whereby Pakistan’s food security may be ensured at the earliest through robust and implementable policies that create the conditions for agricultural recovery, while acknowledging the cultural and traditional factors of Pakistani society insofar as they have inhibited technological innovation and growth of human capital in Pakistan’s agronomy. Climate smart agriculture (CSA) practices address climatic change challenges such as floods, droughts and intense heat, albeit without compromising agricultural production processes and the quality of produce. These interventions promote sustainability, as well as soil and water conservation, while enhancing agricultural output productivity per unit area. CSA practices contribute to reductions in GHG emissions by reducing use of fossil fuels. Use of biofertilizers, bio-pesticides, and weed control practices can reduce agricultural GHG emissions and solid waste pollution.
Muhammad Tariq, Ghazala, Abid Mahmood, Muhammad Ibrahim
The assessment of air pollution especially extreme particulate pollution is important because of its severe impacts on the environment, health, and global dramatic changes in weather patterns. To evaluate the pollution load in the urban and rural air profile of Faisalabad Punjab, Pakistan a study was carried out. This was done in two periods -1) during smog 2017 and -2) after smog from December 2017 to March 2018 to analyze and characterize the various air pollutants during and after smog to focus light on the metrological and chemical processes leading to a change in the concentration of atmospheric pollutants. For this purpose, sampling was carried out at different selected points using a Qusaine Dual Chamber sampler for PM2.5 and PM10 to determine the concentration of oxides of nitrogen (NO2), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), trace elements like Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe during or after smog cascades in this region. Faisalabad specializes in agricultural activities and is one of the major industrial cities in Pakistan having the third largest population in the country. This increases their anthropogenic impacts on air quality. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were calculated by gravimetric method. The mean values of PM2.5, PM10, oxides of nitrogen (NO2), Sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) were 781.26±40.97 µg/m-3, 868.06±40.90 µg/m-3, 132.76±1.19 µg/m-3, 149.67±0.72 µg/m-3, 31±0.94 µg/m-3 and 55.79± 0.68µg/m-3, 176.33±0.33µg/m-3, 117.43±1.20 µg/m-3, 135.37±0.72 µg/m-3, 21.57±0.75 µg/m-3 during and after smog, respectively. The selected metals were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS). The mean values of Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe were 115±0.65 ng/ m3, 14±0.19 ng/m3, 270±2.24 ng/m3, 90±2.33 ng/m3, 22±1.58 ng/m3, 688±1.86 ng m3 and 100±1.53 ng/m3, 10±0.97 ng/m3, 290±0.48 ng/m3, 125±0.19 ng/m3, 30±2.36 ng/m3, 674±0.64 ng/m3 during and after smog respectively. The study showed higher concentrations of air pollutants than that of Pak-NEQS and AIQ levels of PEQS which certainly corresponds to severe heath losses.
Spatial and Trajectory Analysis of Pollutants during Smog Episodes Over Pakistan Using Remote Sensing
Hafsa Shahzad, Shahid Parvez, Zia ul Haq, Ayesha Azhar, Ushna Binte Ishfaq
The atmosphere of Pakistan contains several pollutants hazardous to health, enhancing the already dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) of the country. Smog episodes are drastically increasing each year, posing a threat to human health and the environment of Pakistan. These odorless and tasteless air pollutants increase in loadings during the Smog months from October to February each year, poisoning more than 50,000 and causing clinical symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, fainting, and sometimes death. This study attempts to portray the air quality of Pakistan during smog months before, during, and after the years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Various sensors and models such as the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) were used to observe the concentrations of these air pollutants and aerosols in the atmosphere. Time series analysis was performed to evaluate when concentrations were the highest which showed the highest values at the start (October-November) and end (February) of the smog episode. Spatial distribution over Pakistan and neighboring regions showed the highest loadings in the regions of Punjab and Sindh in Pakistan, extending to the Indo-Gangetic Basin (IGB) and the neighboring regions of Saudi Arabia. Moreover, air trajectories were plotted and analyzed using the HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Both backward and forward trajectories confirmed the possible Transboundary Air Pollution (TAP) traveling to Pakistan from these polluted neighboring regions and beyond having high aerosol and air pollution concentrations. This study can be used as a base to define and implement policy recommendations to reduce the amount of smog emerging due to natural, local anthropogenic, and transboundary sources.
Pollution control and Environmental Health
Rabia Nazir, Almas Hamid and Jannat Faisal
An extensive research was conducted over a time period of 75 days to increase the fertility of soil by adding organic matter. 10 soil pots, containing 500g of soil each were prepared. On the other side, garlic and onion peels were collected, dried and were converted into powder. 5g of each peel were added in the pot. T1 = control treatment, T2= soil + chromium, T3=soil + chromium + garlic peels, T4= soil + chromium + onion peels, T5= soil + chromium + garlic peels + onion peels, T6 control treatment, T7 = soil + nickel, T8 = soil + nickel + garlic peels, T9 = soil + nickel + onion peels and T10 = soil + nickel + garlic peels + onion peels. Soil pots are kept under sunlight. After an interval of 15 days, N% (Kjeldahl method), P conc. (UV spectrophotometer), K conc. (Flame photometer), pH (pH meter), Electric conductivity (Conductivity Meter), microbial growth (micro scope) and heavy metal conc. (Atomic Absorption) were determined. After 75 days, N%, P conc and K conc. (NPK) increased most in the T4, T5, T8, T9 and T10 by 26%, 31% and 44% as compared to day 1. Heavy Metals conc. dropped in the pots by 11% and 16% by the end of day 75, as the organic matter absorbed the heavy metals. Microbial population significantly increased by 44% approximately in T4, T5, T6, T8, T9 and T10. By the end of day 75, the addition of garlic and onion peels proved beneficial as the conc. of heavy metals dropped and the fertility of soil increased significantly. Along with the increase in soil fertility, the organic waste was also managed thus the pressure on landfill sites was decreased.
Modeling of air pollution dispersion from brick kilns by AERMOD model and selection of optimal stack height for the improvement of ambient air quality in the outskirts of Lahore, Pakistan
Fatima Nawaz, Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Soniya Munir
Understanding the spatiotemporal dispersion of pollutant load from a single industrial sector plays an important role in assessing its impact on ambient air quality. In the operation of the brick kiln industry, fossil fuels are utilized that cause the emission of harmful air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants act as precursors of smog. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of an increase in stack height on the dispersion of smog creating air emissions from conventional brick making through bull trench methodology, zig-zag technology, and briquette technology kilns working in the region of Lahore and Kasur districts. Concentration (µg/Nm3) and flow rates(g/s) of various pollutants were observed for selected kilns using standard reference methodologies and their possible distribution was predicted by the AERMOD modeling system for original and simulated stack heights for specified periods of 1 hour, 24 hours and 1 year in the vicinity of 10×10 km around the source. Stack specifications, metrological phenomena, and terrain specifications of selected areas were taken into consideration. Values obtained were compared among different kiln technologies as well as with PEQS for ambient air. The study showed a decrease in pollution dispersion with the simulated increase in stack height. Pollutant load was observed to be 4027.90, 1911.7, 1601 (µg/m3) for CO, 2045.7, 348.3, 228 (µg/m3) for SO2, 48.62, 59.6, 54.0 (µg/m3) for NOx, 316.6, 167.8, 127 (µg/m3) for PM10 for traditional bull’s trench kiln, zig-zag type kiln and briquette kiln technology respectively. Results of the study showed with an increase of up to 45 feet stack height, CO, SO2, NOx, and PM10 concentration reduction by 19%, 57.92%, 7.53%, and 16.12% respectively for 24 hours and 0.02%,31.47%, 0.77% and 1.24% respectively for 1 year. Results of the study revealed that on average traditional fixed chimney bull’s trench kiln technology releases the maximum concentration of pollutants. An increase of 15, 30, 45 feet in stack height significantly reduces pollutant dispersion in the surrounding environment. The study results can be used as a base for reducing the ambient concentration of pollutants for the prevention of the significant health and environmental impacts imposed by brick kiln emissions.
Spatiotemporal variability of SO2, NOx, and Non-Methane VOC emissions in Pakistan based on the top-down methodology
Ayesha Mariam, Asim Daud Rana, Syeda Adila Batool, Munawar Iqbal, Ammar Hammeed
Air pollution has become a global challenge that adversely affects public health and attains considerable attention, particularly in developing countries. Top-down emission estimations provide important information on air pollution sources. Therefore, the current study intends to incorporate top-down estimations of CAMS-GLOB-ANT (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Global Anthropogenic emissions) to analyze the emission distribution of SO2, NOx, and Non-Methane VOC (NMVOC) in Pakistan from 2000 to 2023. Industry, road transport, and residential combustion as the top three major air pollution sources in Pakistan are selected for the current study. The results indicate the highest SO2, NOx, and NMVOC emissions in Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Islamabad, Peshawar, Hyderabad, and Karachi. The average sum sector of NOx, SO2, and NMVOC emissions in Pakistan are 2.0310-11 kgm-2s-1, 3.3110-11 kgm-2s-1, and 6.1710-11 kgm-2s-1, respectively. Among the selected subsectors, the industry sector generated the maximum emissions of 4.2710-9 kgm-2s-1 (NOx), 1.310-9 kgm-2s-1 (SO2), and 4.9110-9 kgm-2s-1 (NMVOC). During the study period, NOx, SO2, and NMVOC show an increasing trend with a growth rate of 0.05 kgm-2s-1/yr, 0.04 kgm-2s-1/yr, and 0.06 kgm-2s-1/yr, respectively.
Assessment of Economic and Ecosystem Services of Native Tree Species for Urban Green Spaces Through I- Tree Tools
Anam Aslam and Anum Tariq
The rapid deforestation and urban expansion poses a significant threat to the human well- being, biodiversity and overall ecosystem on global and local level nowadays. In developing countries like Pakistan, it is necessary to develop, restore and preserve urban green spaces and implement sustainable urban planning, rather than development of only unlimited commercial hubs. The study aimed to assess the economic worth and ecosystem services of native tree species in urban green spaces, calculate the area for a commercial hub, analyze tree spacing and determine the hardiness score for tree species in Pakistan. For this purpose, the input data which includes diameter at breast height (DBH), sun exposure and other conditions of 34 native tree species is measured in eight different gardens of Lahore. The study achieved its basic objectives by utilizing i-Tree MyTree tool to assess the economic worth and ecosystem services of native tree species in urban green spaces, calculating the area for a commercial hub using Google Earth and ArcMap, analyzing tree spacing and total number of trees with a spacing calculator, and calculating the hardiness score for tree species in Pakistan with i-tree species. The data also revealed the additional advantages of native trees near buildings for the current year and the potential values over 20 years. A proposal is given for the development of urban green space instead of commercial hubs in Lahore. The data showed the estimated worth of native tree species is approximately 63% , air pollution removal 34% and carbon dioxide uptake 3% . Tree species near buildings provide additional benefits such as electricity savings (KWh) which is 5% in current year and 95% in over 20 years. The top six native trees on the basis of their current and potential worth and benefits are: Ehretia acuminata > Putranjiva roxburghi > Mangifera indica > Syzygium cumini > Saraca indica > Albizia procera. The findings highlight the significance of planned urban development and incorporation of green spaces in an urban landscape, by using native tree species for a sustainable and resilient urban environment.
Greater Himalayan Climate Emergency – Is Conservation Working for Snow Leopards?
Uzma Saeed
Assessing species’ vulnerability to climate change is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. The greater Himalayan region, encompassing Pakistan, India, and Nepal, faces accelerated warming, posing a significant threat to its ecosystems and native species, including the endangered snow leopard—a key indicator of ecosystem health. Objectives include understanding species distribution under different climate scenarios and projecting future habitats. Based on 364 detections, results suggest that 16.9% and 23% of habitats in the greater Himalayan region, encompassing Pakistan, India, and Nepal, may disappear by 2070 under RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Mean annual temperature is the primary determinant of suitable habitat, with no significant impact on human population density. Highly suitable habitat is projected to decrease from 37% to 32.6% and 31.2% under RCP 4.5 and 8.5, respectively. Habitat loss presents significant conservation challenges for the region’s snow leopard and other species. These findings offer insights for conservation planning, recommending protected areas expansion, particularly in climate refugia regions of Pakistan, India, and Nepal, and increasing staffing to combat poaching. It also supports promoting transboundary conservation to connect snow leopard populations across these countries. Strengthening monitoring and research efforts to understand the impact of climate change on snow leopards and their habitat and guiding adaptive management strategies are needed. Additionally, efforts to raise public awareness to encourage action in reducing the impacts of climate change on snow leopards and their habitat are needed.
Related: Production of Nature
Labels: Environment, Environmental Science and Policy, Research
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5/14/2024 08:00:00 AM,
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