Background According to the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index 2017, Pakistan is rated amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. In the last half-decade, it has experienced devastating floods almost annually, and in 2015 a heatwave in Karachi resulted in around 1200 deaths. Although this is in line with global trends, it will leave Pakistan hard pressed for water resources. The demand by various sectors will create tremendous pressure and force diversion of water from agriculture to other competing uses. As the population increases and average temperature continues to rise, there will be both spatial and time-related water shortages with surges in demand. In particular, heat- related stresses in agriculture and domestic use will require more water than normal, with an overall increase in demand as well as seasonal shifts in the water requirements of various sectors. Historically, much of the scientific data on water, globally and in Pakistan, has focused on supply and paid little attention to demand. Given that the population is rapidly increasing and climate change is likely to put pressure on existing water allocations, it is crucial for policymakers and water experts to understand demand and how to manage it. Responding to this need, LEAD Pakistan hosted an interactive session and webinar with Dr. Zaigham Habib, a hydrologist and water resources expert, and Dr. Pervaiz Amir, a senior economist, to present the findings from their study “Estimating the impacts of climate change on sectoral water demand in Pakistan”. Sectoral demands for water: key issues and challenges Agriculture is one of Pakistan's biggest economic sectors, employing more than 40% of the population and with an estimated share of about 85% of total water usage. In most regions, agriculture is under stress due to factors such as urban expansion and groundwater depletion, though simultaneously the need to maximize production in the face of a growing population is leading to crop intensification, a shift to high-yield crops, multiple cropping and excessive land cultivation. Another shift is the phenomenal growth of the livestock, the average annual water requirement for which is projected to increase from 1.2 BCM in 2006 to 4.9 BCM in 2050. Current estimates indicate that an increase in average temperature of 2 degrees Celsius would augment the water intake of a large animal by about 4% and a 4 degree increase would do so by 10%. With a rising population, the net availability of water has dropped from 5000 cubic meters per person per year in 1951 to the current level of about 1100 cubic meters. Given that water demand is closely linked with population growth, related trends and projections can help to determine water allocation policy. For Pakistan, there are three potential population growth scenarios post-2015. The average growth rate in these scenarios ranges from 1.58% to 2.1%. This is expected to decline to 0.5% by 2050 (though the population will still be over 300 million). However, even if the growth rate declines, the lack of water available for drinking and domestic use remains an issue in both urban and rural areas due to below par water quality for direct human consumption. This poses a massive challenge since it is expected that 60% of Pakistan's population will be based in urban or peri-urban areas by 2035. To compensate for the lack of clean surface water, unregulated extraction of groundwater has become a common practice. While it can provide short- term water security, it is leading to depletion of the water table and will ultimately make living in most cities and urban centers unsustainable (as is the case, to varying degrees, in Karachi, Quetta and Lahore). LEAD UPDATE Inspiring leadership for a sustainable world LEAD House, F7 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan. Tel: +92 (51) 2651511, Fax: +92 (51) 2651512, Email: [email protected]456 SEPTEMBER 2017 Social Capital Development Environmental Management Special Initiatives Climate Action Programme Water Programme Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Sectoral Water Demand in Pakistan September 27, 2017 at LEAD House, Islamabad www.lead.org.pk leading perspectives
Transcript
BackgroundAccording to the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index 2017, Pakistan is rated amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. In the last half-decade, it has experienced devastating floods almost annually, and in 2015 a heatwave in Karachi resulted in around 1200 deaths. Although this is in line with global trends, it will leave Pakistan hard pressed for water resources. The demand by various sectors will create tremendous pressure and force diversion of water from agriculture to other competing uses. As the population increases and average temperature continues to rise, there will be both spatial and time-related water shortages with surges in demand. In particular, heat-related stresses in agriculture and domestic use will require more water than normal, with an overall increase in demand as well as seasonal shifts in the water requirements of various sectors.
Historically, much of the scientific data on water, globally and in Pakistan, has focused on supply and paid little attention to demand. Given that the population is rapidly increasing and climate change is likely to put pressure on existing water allocations, it is crucial for policymakers and water experts to understand demand and how to manage it. Responding to this need, LEAD Pakistan hosted an interactive session and webinar with Dr. Zaigham Habib, a hydrologist and water resources expert, and Dr. Pervaiz Amir, a senior economist, to present the findings from their study “Estimating the impacts of climate change on sectoral water demand in Pakistan”.
Sectoral demands for water: key issues and challenges Agriculture is one of Pakistan's biggest economic sectors, employing more than 40% of the population and with an estimated share of about 85% of total water usage. In most regions, agriculture is under stress due to
factors such as urban expansion and g r o u n d w a t e r d e p l e t i o n , t h o u g h simultaneously the need to maximize production in the face of a growing population is leading to crop intensification, a shift to high-yield crops, multiple cropping and excessive land cultivation. Another shift is the phenomenal growth of the livestock, the average annual water requirement for which is projected to increase from 1.2 BCM in 2006 to 4.9 BCM in 2050. Current estimates indicate that an increase in average temperature of 2 degrees Celsius would augment the water intake of a large animal by about 4% and a 4 degree increase would do so by 10%.
With a rising population, the net availability of water has dropped from 5000 cubic meters per person per year in 1951 to the current level of about 1100 cubic meters. Given that water demand is closely linked with population growth, related trends and projections can help to determine water allocation policy. For Pakistan, there are three potential population growth scenarios post-2015. The average growth rate in these scenarios ranges from 1.58% to 2.1%. This is expected to decline to 0.5% by 2050 (though the population will still be over 300 million). However, even if the growth rate declines, the lack of water available for drinking and domestic use remains an issue in both urban and rural areas due to below par water quality for direct human consumption. This poses a massive challenge since it is expected that 60% of Pakistan's population will be based in urban or peri-urban areas by 2035. To compensate for the lack of clean surface water, unregulated extraction of groundwater has become a common practice. While it can provide short-term water security, it is leading to depletion of the water table and will ultimately make living in most cities and urban centers unsustainable (as is the case, to varying degrees, in Karachi, Quetta and Lahore).
LEAD UPDATEInspiring leadership for a sustainable world
Estimating the Impacts of Climate Change on Sectoral Water Demand in PakistanSeptember 27, 2017 at LEAD House, Islamabad
www.lead.org.pk
leadingperspectives
LEAD UPDATE 456
Content by: Sofia Ahmad
Still, generally speaking, outside of the agriculture sector, there is a lack of reliable data on the uses of water in Pakistan. As a result, most of it is underestimated or not accounted for. Moreover, demand is generally confused with supply side efficiency, while new water allocations need to be made in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h v a r i o u s development plans and agendas. Similarly, there is a high degree of uncertainty in climate change projections that means the impact of climate change on sectoral water demand requires further research and analysis.
The outlook for Pakistan, recommendations and way forward Despite climate change and the pressure of population growth, Pakistan is not a water-stressed country. Similarly, contrary to popular belief, Pakistan does in fact have an informal water market, but it needs to be based on demand. For instance, in Punjab, which is the most populous province, lack of water pricing is resulting in excessive wastage. Meanwhile, in Sindh, improper water pricing is a major cause of the water crisis, which according to the researchers is mostly “man-made”.
According to the researchers, the most pressing policy concerns for meeting sectoral water demand in Pakistan are:
æ The quality of drinking wateræ Rationalizing the share of water
in agricultureæ Equitable and sustainable
distribution/sharing of total water benefits amongst the provinces
In addition to the above concerns and the stressors of climate change and rapid population growth, with large infrastructure developments and projects like CPEC underway, new sectors will emerge and demands will fluctuate. For example, the energy sector, which is presently in crisis, will require more water. Thus, in order to survive with the resources that we have, we need to conserve water through various means and methods. These include rainwater harvesting and harnessing our existing technologies to invest in
s u s t a i n a b l e o p t i o n s f o r conservation.
All this means that more studies, comprehensive research and institutional strengthening will be needed to better understand how climate change impacts sectoral water demands and how to manage those demands. Data should be improved and guidelines for policy actions should be developed. Most importantly, there needs to be more even and equitable distribution of water across other sectors – not just agriculture – and across provinces.
While there are a few positive steps being taken, such as the bifurcation of the water and power sectors previously lumped together under WAPDA and the Ministry of Water and Power, a few other measures would go a long way in improving the water situation in Pakistan. Examples of such measures include bulk metering of water to curtail excessive wastage and climate-smart policies that take into account the impact of climate change on various economic sectors.
Key Messagesæ Water needs to be diverted from
agriculture and spread equitably across other sectors, but taking from agriculture could create massive conflicts.
æ Climate change is a major variable that impacts sectoral water demand and presents a ‘time and space’ problem for both demand and supply.
æ As the temperature increases, water demand – especially for domestic and industrial use – will also go up.
æ Water security should be seen as being as critical as national secu r i t y because o f i t s importance to humans and ecosystems.
æ Aside from demand, adequate attention must be given to the quality of water.
æ A strong government subsidy is needed to ensure that everyone has the right to safe drinking water. However, for other uses, we need to have proper, regulated water pricing.
æ In terms of policy and planning, more needs to be done at the provincial and district levels.
Layout by: Abbas MushtaqEdited by: Samar Minallah
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List of Particpants
æ Adeel Mukhtar – Asst Research Officer, Islamabad Policy Research Institute
æ Ahmed Awais – Researcher, Sustainable Development Policy Institute
