Abstract
Pakistan, the sixth most populous country, has been one of the most vulnerable countries to the harmful impacts of climate change. The climate risk index (CRI) includes Pakistan in the top ten nations based on exposure and vulnerability to extreme events. Specific challenges amplifying the adverse effects of climate change include rapid population increase, increasing temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme events, glacier melting, and sea-level rise. Pakistan’s water resources are largely dependent on one river, the Indus. The Indus River, being dependent on glacial and snowmelt and precipitation, is highly sensitive to climate change. Global and regional climate models are highly certain about the increase in temperature but uncertain about future precipitation patterns in most of the country, which could severely affect the water resources in the future. An improved understanding of the adverse impacts of climate change on water resources is therefore needed. Adaptation measures need to be identified and actively pursued to ensure limited freshwater resources are used and managed sustainably.
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Dars, G.H., Lashari, B.K., Soomro, M.S., Strong, C., Ansari, K. (2021). Pakistan’s Water Resources in the Era of Climate Change. In: Watto, M.A., Mitchell, M., Bashir, S. (eds) Water Resources of Pakistan. World Water Resources, vol 9. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65679-9_6
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