The federal capital and its surrounding areas are facing climate change impacts, including the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation, floods, droughts and cyclones.
The findings of a study titled ‘Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of Islamabad’ revealed that the extreme weather events recorded so far in Islamabad include highest maximum temperature of 46.6 Celsius on June 24, 2005 and lowest at -4.3 Celsius on December 25, 1984 while heaviest rainfall of 621 millimetres was recorded in 2001.
The study was conducted by Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with UN Habitat, Capital Development Authority (CDA) and ICT administration.
To counter the impact of climate change, the study recommended immediate need for climate-smart planning by the city authorities. It also advised rainwater harvesting, ecosystem management, study of carbon sequestration in Margalla Hills National Park, energy conservation in buildings, tube wells and industrial sector.
Increasing awareness for climate change impacts through educational institutions and other stakeholders is also stressed in the study.
