Group Q - Collaborative Climate Adaption Project
| Place | Karachi | |
| Country | Pakistan | |
| Topic | Impacts of climate change on Karachi | |
| 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 largest city in 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
As landscape architects we are closely associated with changes in landscape due to climate change. Learning about climate changes in a region that is far from ours will help us understand and prevent damage, slow down rapid change in climate and landscape, not only in our region but also all over the world. Karachi City represent an example how neglecting landscape reflects on climate, and what will happen if people don't start understanding what the consequences of their actions are.
Landscape and/or urban context
Karachi, Pakistan, the country's largest city and the capital of Sind province, lies on the flat, sandy coast facing the Arabian Sea just north of the Indus River delta. It became capital city of a new Dominion of Pakistan in 1947, until 1960 when Islamabad was constructed and became tne new capital city of Pakistan.
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. After gaining control of the region in the 19th century, British 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.Geography in Karachi
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.
The earliest inhabitants of the area that became Karachi were Sindhi tribes. Before the end of British colonial rule and the subsequent independence of Pakistan in 1947, the population of the city was vastly consisting Hindus and Sikhs. The city is still a home to a large community of Gujarati Muslims who were one of the earliest settlers in the city, and still form the majority in Saddar Town. Other early settlers included the Marwari Muslims, Parsis originally from Iran, Marathi and Konkani Muslims from Maharashtra (settled in Kokan Town), Goan Catholics and Anglo-Indians. Most non-Muslims left the city to India in the 1950s, after independence, but there are still small communities of Parsis, Goan Catholics and Anglo-Indians in the city.Demographics of Karachi
Topography
Karachi may be broadly divided into two parts; the hilly areas in the north and west and an undulating plain and coastal area in the south-east. The hills in Karachi are the off-shoots of the Kirthar Range. The highest point of these hills in Karachi is about 528m in the extreme north. All these hills are devoid of vegetation and have wide intervening plains, dry river beds and water channels. Karachi has a long coastline in the south. The famous sea beaches include Hawks Bay,Paradise Point, Sands Pit, and Clifton. China Creek and Korangi Creek provide excellent calm water channels for rowing and other water activities. Away from the shoreline are small islands including Shamsh Pir, Baba Bhit, Bunker, Salehabad and Manora.[1].
According to the find-ings of a study funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – Comprehensive Plan for Forestation, Aesthetc Plantaton and Landscaping for Karachi, 2008 - total vegetation cover in Karachi as estmated through satellite imageries is 62,643 acres which works out as 7% of the total land area of 907,001 acres. Karachi City Climate Change(Adaptation Stratergy): A road Map
Cultural/social/political context
Culture
- Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework
Krokola was the ancient name of Karachi what literally means „a place where crocodile worship“. Around 1558, Karachi was a conglomerate of fishing villages, called Kalachi or Kalati, and in 1729, Seth Bhoju Mal laid foundation of a small township on the left bank of Lyari River. Town was recognized for commerce in the period of the Kalhora princess in 1793. Until 1839, after the capture of Manora fort that put British in possession of the town. The modern port – city was developed by British in the 19th century. In 1947, after the independence of Pakistan, Karachi was chosen to be its capital, and it was settled by Muslim refugees, which radically expanded city's population and transformed its demographics and economy.
Economy
Karachi is the financial and commercial capital of Pakistan, and a nerve center of Pakistan's economy. In line with its status as a major port and the country's largest metropolis, it accounts for a lion's share of Pakistan's revenue which is around 25%. It also contributes to Pakistan's manufacturing sector with approximately 30 percent. It has large industrial zones which are located on the fringes of the main city, and its primary areas of industry are textiles, pharmaceuticals, steel, and automobiles. The economic stagnation caused by political anarchy, ethnic strife and resultant military operation during late 1980s and 1990s led to an exit of industry from Karachi.
As one of the most rapidly growing cities in the world, Karachi faces challenges that are central to many developing metropolises, including traffic congestion, pollution, poverty and street crime. These problems continue to earn Karachi low rankings in livability comparisons. [1]
Legal framework
The politics of Karachi takes place at the municipal, provincial and federal levels of the government. First form of government was established in 1846 in form of a conservancy board to control the spread of cholera in the city, and in 1852 board became a municipal commitee. Administrative districts changed in numbers and size over the years, and since 2011, City District Government of Karachi has been de-merged into five districts: Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi Central, Karachi South and Malir.[2]
Decentralization and absence of a coordination between administrative districts is one of the main problems in Karachi. Due to a variety of reasons, mostly political, the mandated relevance of the local government development authorities has been minimized.
Local Climate
Karachi is located on the coast, and therefore has an arid climate with low average precipitation levels (approx. 250 mm (9.8 in) per annum), the bulk of which occurs during the July–August monsoon season. Winters are mild and dry, while the summers are warm and humid.
The proximity to the sea maintains humidity levels at a near-constant high and cool sea breezes relieve the heat of the summer months. December and January are dry and pleasant as compared to the warm summers that dominate through the late spring (March) to the pre-monsoon season (June). Compared to other parts of Pakistan, Karachi's weather is considered mild.
The city's highest monthly rainfall, 429.3 mm (16.90 in), occurred in July 1967. The city's highest rainfall in 24 hours occurred on 7 August 1953, when about 278.1 millimetres (10.95 in) of rain lashed the city, resulting in major flooding.[30] Karachi's highest recorded temperature is 47 °C (117 °F), which was recorded on 18 June 1979,and the lowest is 0.0 °C (32.0 °F), recorded on 21 January 1934.
The monsoon and the Western Disturbance are the two main factors which alter the weather over Karachi; otherwise, Continental air prevails for rest of the year. Following are the main factors that alter the weather over Karachi city.
Western Disturbances mostly occur during the winter months and cause drizzle to light showers, temperature also decreases due to it. Tropical Storms usually form during the summer months from late April till June and then from late September till November. Southwest Monsoon occurs in summer from the month of July till September. Monsoon rains bring much awaited relief from the scorching summer heat. These monsoon rains are quite heavy by nature and can cause significant flooding. Continental air prevails during the period when there is no precipitation in the metropolis.
Analysis of vulnerability
- Karachi's biggest problems in terms of vulnerability due to climate change are: flooding, drought, extreme heat events and sea level rise.
Flooding is main problem that threatens Karachi. Besides tidal flooding which endangers fishing settlements on the coast there are 3 more sources of flooding in Karachi.
1. Fluvial flooding – from Lyari and Malir rivers and their tributaries
2. Surface water flooding – from heavy rainfall that overcomes the drainage system
3. Sewer flooding – from sewer overflowing
that primarily threaten fishing settlements at coast, slums and low lying localities and hill settlements.
Possible impacts of flooding: loss of life and personal injury, direct damage to property, infrastructure , contaminaton and disease from flood and sewer water, possible relocaton and resettlement of communites.
Drought is a consequence of insufficient rainfall in Karachi.
Possible impacts of drought: reduced river flow, reduced recharge of groundwater reserves, increased evapotranspiration, increased demand for water by people and wildlife, impacts on farming
Extreme heat events are defined as extended periods of hotter than average temperatures, and it can cause a problem due to people of different age have different abilities to deal with high temperatures. Constantly growing population density in Karachi, transport and industrial growth which increase fossil fuel consumption and emissions of CO2 all lead to urban heat island effect.
Possible impacts of extreme heat events: urban heat island effect, increased water usage, increased demand in energy for cooling, illnesses that are heat related and death, damage to infrastructure (such as electricity systems).
Sea level rise is closely connected with extreme heat events, that are causing ice melting and rise of the level of the oceans.
Possible impacts of sea level rise: damage to ecosystems, loss of fishing communities at coast, damage to residential, governmental and recreational infrastructure
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
When it comes to adaption measures the starting point would be to remind the city government that they are the guardians of the city and to start educating people about climate change and what is their role in preventing the worst scenario. There are no measures that can prevent climate change, only those that lessen the influence and damage of climate change, so our proposal for adaption would be:
1. Flooding – development of flood risk zones by the rivers of Lyari and Malir, adapt city sewer infrastructure accordingly to the rainfall intensity and maintain it regularly, prevent settlements in areas that are in flood risk zones, increase areas covered with vegetation.
2. Drought – implement measures to promote sustainable water use in farming, prevent unsustainable sand extraction from river basins, implement policies for water harvesting and water recycling.
3. Extreme heat waves – increase areas covered with vegetation, implement green roofs, implement policy that will discourage use of private vehicles, implement environment friendly energy sources, use of building materials that reduce overheating.
4. Sea level rise – place flooding barriers along rivers and and in areas in tidal flooding zones, dislocation of people from the risk zones, restrict development in the coastal area, prevention of devastation and reestablishment of mangroves that can act as tidal buffer.
To assure sustainability of listed measures planning should be on all levels, national, regional and local, and functional legal framework would have to be implemented.
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
Climate change mitigation refers to decreasing of greenhouse gas concentrations in order to reduce the effects of global warming through various methods such as the use of alternative energy sources, energy efficiency and conservation, carbon sinks, geoengineering and many more.
In this case, Karachi city could reduce carbon dioxide emisson by discouraging the use of private vehicles, for example by implementing higher taxes for cars that run on fossile fuels, raise fuel cost and encourage use of hybrid cars by lowering taxes on them. Or by implementing steam and odd policy, depending on the day of the month and car licence plate number, inhabitants can or cannot use their private cars. Also, lowering the cost of public transportation and organising a public traffic transport network that can satisfy the city's needs would encourage people to use public transport more often.
Implementing a green infrastructure network through the city would help by accumulating carbon dioxide into plants and it would serve as a carbon sink. One of the ways to make use of constant floods would be, instead of raising barriers to prevent rivers from flooding, to allow them to flood their basins that would serve as wetlands for carbon dioxide accumulation. Wetlands could also serve as natural reserves for wildlife, water recycling and desalinization and absorb some of the city's heat problems along with implementation of green roofs.
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
Image Gallery
Aerial of Karachi City
Karachi in 1889
Busy street scene in Karachi, 1890
A traffic policeman fights a losing battle in Karachi
Karachi traffic problem, 1994
Mozar Quaid-e-Azam, the burial site of Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Tropical Cyclone Gonu, Cyclone 03B, in June 2007 caused flooding and wind damage in Karachi
Pakistanis wade through a flooded road caused by heavy monsoon rainfall in Karachi
References
- ↑ Arif Hasan and Masooma Mohib (2003). Understanding Slums: Case Studies for the Global Report 2003 case study of Karachi, Pakistan http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu-projects/Global_Report/cities/karachi.htm
1. Arif Hasan and Masooma Mohib (2003). Understanding Slums: Case Studies for the Global Report 2003 case study of Karachi, Pakistan [3]
2. Farhan Anwar (2012). Karachi City Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, Pakistan [4]