Group Q - Collaborative Climate Adaption Project
| Place | Karachi | |
| Country | Pakistan | |
| Topic | please enter the topic here | |
| Author(s) | Ana Žmire, Farzan Azarpour, Bojan Ilijin | |
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Rationale: Why have you selected this case study area?
- The area that we have chosen is Karachi, the capital city of Pakistan. Main reasons why we chose this area is that the city of Karachi tops the list of cities unsuitable for life, because terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are being destroyed, air is polluted and natural resources are misused.
There is a growing socio-economic inequality and increasing environmental degradation. Some of the problems that are present in this area are increased CO2 concentrations, heat waves, cyclones, floods, lack of drinking water and falling of groundwater levels.
Authors' perspectives
- What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study?
Landscape and/or urban context
- Biogeography, land use patterns, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics
- ratio of green/blue and sealed/built-up areas
Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses
Karachi, Pakistan, the country's largest city and the capital of Sind province. It lies on the flat, sandy coast facing the Arabian Sea just north of the Indus River delta.
Karachi is Pakistan's largest industrial and commercial center, handling much of Pakistan's international trade. Leading manufacturing industries include food processing, shipbuilding, and the making of textiles, chemicals, and machinery. Oil refineries, a nuclear power plant, and the nation's first steel mill are nearby. Karachi is Pakistan's only seaport and the center of the nation's fishing industry. It also serves as the main port for landlocked Afghanistan.
Originally a tiny fishing village, Karachi became a trading center in the 1700's. The British, after gaining control of the region in the 19th century, developed the city into an important port. Rapid growth came after Pakistan became independent in 1947, largely, because of the huge influx of Muslim refugees from India. Karachi was the national capital from 1947 until 1959. Over the next several decades it was one of the fastest growing cities in the world, doubling its population from 1981 to 1999.
Population
The urban population has increased from 4,015,000 (14.2 per cent of the total) in 1941 to 42,458,000 (32.5 per cent of total) in 1998. The 1998 figures have been challenged since only those settlements have been considered as urban which have urban local government structures. Population density as a whole has also increased from 42.5 people per km2 in 1951 to 164 in 1998.
History
In the seventeenth century, Karak Bunder was a small port on the Arabian Sea on the estuary of the Hub River, 40 km west of present day Karachi. It was a transit point for the South Indian - Central Asian trade. The estuary silted up due to heavy rains in 1728 and the harbour could no longer be used. As a result, the merchants of Karak Bunder decided to relocate their activities to what is today known as Karachi. Trade increased between 1729 and 1839 because of the silting up of Shah Bunder and Kiti Bunder (important ports on the Indus) and the shifting of their activities to Karachi. In 1839, the British conquered Karachi. They needed a port for landing troops for their Afghan campaigns which were aimed to prevent the Russians from reaching the Arabian Sea. After the British conquest, Karachi expanded rapidly. The major reason for Karachi’s growth was that the British developed perennial irrigation schemes in Punjab and Sindh (Karachi’s hinterland) increasing agricultural production which was exported through Karachi. The railways were developed linking Karachi to its hinterland making the transportation of agricultural produce possible. As a result by 1869, Karachi became the largest exporter of wheat and cotton in India. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 made Karachi the first port of call for ships coming to India from Europe. During the First World War Karachi became the headquarters for British interventions in Central Asia. As a result, its cantonments expanded. In 1935, Sindh became a province after its separation from the Bombay Presidency and Karachi became its capital. Government offices and trade organisations shifted from Bombay to Karachi as a result and the first industrial estate in Karachi was created. And finally, in 1947, Pakistan was created and Karachi became its first capital.
Cultural/social/political context
- Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework
Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes
Local Climate
- What are the climatic conditions at present? Have there been extreme weather events in the near past?
- Which changes are expected? Is there any evidence?
Illustration: Table or time line
Analysis of vulnerability
- If you consider these potential changes - which aspects/functions of your case study would be affected?
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches/photos/background notes
Proposals for Climate Change Adaption
- How could your case study area become more resilient to climate change?
- Which measures would need to be taken to adapt to the new situation?
- How could you assure sustainability of these measures?
- Please describe 2-3 measures
Proposals for Climate Change Mitigation
- Which measures would need to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other drivers of climate change within your case study area?
- How could you assure sustainability of these measures?
- Please describe 2-3 measures
Your scenario
- How will this area look like in 2060?
- Please forecast one potential future development taking climate change into account
Illustration: Map/diagram/sketches photos and background notes
What can be generalized from this case study?
- Are there any important theoretical insights?
- Which research questions does it generate?
- Short statement plus background notes
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References
Please add literature, documentations and weblinks
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