Effects of Climate Change in

Gilgit Baltistan Area

Presented By:
Sarah Almas
Registration No:
MSDS 1
Scope of the Project
The project’s objective is to highlight the issues
being faced by the people due to the climate
change in Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan.

Climate change has various impacts on the

northern regions of the world, and these effects
can be observed in multiple aspects of the
environment and ecosystems.

Through this project I want to emphasis on the

government policies and how they can overcome
the effects of climate change in the Gilgit
Baltistan of Pakistan.
Situational Analysis

It is estimated that there are around 7000

glaciers in Pakistan, most of which are
located in Gilgit Baltistan. Three of the
World’s seven largest glaciers are sited in
Gilgit Baltistan. Due to global warming,
the rate of melting glaciers is increasing,
causing floods and glacier lake outburst
flooding(GLOF) threats. The whole GB
has been identified as either a high or very
high-risk region concerning GLOF hazard.
 • Glacial Melting
• Shifts in Ecosystem and Biodiversity
• Threats to Agriculture
• Cultural and Social Impacts
• Threats of Landslides
• Risk of Water Resources
• Infrastructure Vulnerability

Effects of
Climate Change
Problem Identification
& Impact
• Severe Rainfall Raises
• Flash Flooding
• Devastatingly affecting communities and
infrastructure
• Severe impact on natural habitat
• Endangerment of many species
• Threat on human lives
• Damage of cultural land
Glacial Melting
Impact: The northern areas are home to important
glaciers that serve as a crucial water source for the
region and beyond. The melting of glaciers due to
rising temperatures contributes to water scarcity,
affecting agriculture, hydropower generation, and
overall water availability.

Consequence: Reduced glacier volume and altered

water flow patterns impact local ecosystems and
pose challenges to communities dependent on
glacial meltwater.
Shifts in Ecosystem
and Biodiversity
• Impact: Changing temperature and
precipitation patterns influence the
distribution of plant and animal species.

• Consequence: Shifts in ecosystems can affect

biodiversity, disrupt traditional agriculture
practices, and impact the livelihoods of
communities relying on specific flora and
fauna.
Threats to Agriculture
• Impact: Altered temperature and
precipitation patterns can affect
agricultural productivity.

• Consequence: Changes in growing

seasons, increased pest pressure,
and variations in water availability
pose challenges to farmers,
potentially leading to reduced crop
yields and food insecurity.
Threats of Landslides

• Impact: Landslides contribute to soil

erosion and environmental degradation.
Recurrent landslides force communities to
abandon their homes.

• Consequence: The loss of topsoil reduces

soil fertility, disrupts ecosystems, and
contributes to long-term ecological
imbalances. Increased displacement and
migration become a common trend as
people seek safer areas, putting additional
strain on already limited resources in
receiving areas
Infrastructure Vulnerability

Impact: Changes in glacial meltwater and altered Consequence: This poses challenges to water
precipitation patterns impact river flows. resource management, affecting both agriculture
and domestic water supply, and contributing to
disputes over water resources.
Risk of Water Resources

Impact: Increased frequency of extreme

events, such as floods and landslides,
poses risks to infrastructure.

Consequence: Roads, bridges, and other

critical infrastructure may be damaged
or rendered unusable, hampering access
to essential services.
Government Policies
• Infrastructure Resilience
• Water and Power
• Agriculture
• Disaster Management
• Biodiversity and Wildlife
• Mountains and Glaciers
• Public Health
Infrastructure Resilience
Run public
The sector most vulnerable to awareness
potential climate change-related campaigns to
highlight the
disasters is infrastructure and the importance of
infrastructure
built environment. It is crucial to resilience
safeguard and bolster the
resilience of this sector, not only Develop building
codes and laws
to minimize the risk of human by adopting and
modifying
casualties but also to empower existing
natitheonal and
communities to mitigate the provincial ones.
broader detrimental effects of Making building codes
and construction laws
climate change. and run public
awareness campaigns on
infrastructure resilience
Water and Power

Water sourced from streams and

rivers is redirected for agricultural,
domestic, and power generation
purposes. Given that hydropower
is the primary electricity source in
the area, the effective operation
of the water and power sectors is

Enhancing access to safe drinking

water and sustainable operation &
maintenance of water supply
of

hydropower, solar and biofuel

renewable energy resources and
technologies such as small

energy and incorporate it in

vital for the regional economy. It is

underscore the importance of

Enhancing public awareness to

conservation and sustainable

crucial to ensure the efficient

development
functioning of these sectors,

use of water resources.

implement effective management
practices, conserve water
resources, and utilize hydropower

building laws.
potential wisely in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Promoting

systems.
Agriculture

The production of agriculture is

closely connected to both
seasonal fluctuations and
Improving crop
prolonged changes arising from productivity by
climate change. Gilgit-Baltistan increasing the Dedicate a section on
(GB) possesses approximately 2% efficiency of climate change at
arable land within its total area of various agriculture department
72,971 square kilometers. Over agricultural inputs Streamline information
flow through agriculture
80% of the population is involved extension services for
in subsistence farming, cultivating climatic conditions and
related crops
cereal crops, fruits, vegetables,
and fodder for livestock.
Disaster Management

The unpredictability of GLOFs and flash

floods heightens the risks of these Documentation and
analysis to handle
disasters, adversely affecting regional natural disasters in
road infrastructure with prolonged order to fill in
cavities after
closures. This restricts access to lessons learned
essential supplies for people in remote from past events.

areas, resulting in challenges obtaining

food and life-saving necessities. The Improving
awareness on issues
damages to property, livestock, and related to
preparedness and
agriculture further impede recovery, risk reduction of
disproportionately impacting climate induced

economically and socially vulnerable

disasters through Developing and
public participation
strengthening
segments of the population. natural hazard early
warning system for
providing warnings
to the public
Biodiversity and Wildlife
GB endures diverse range of
animal and plant species such as
snow leopard, brown bear and
eagles which are potentially
impacted by severe climate
related events. The in-situ
conservation of biodiversity has to
be further strengthened by
enhancing the management of
existing protected areas;
introducing collaborative
management regimes involving
partnerships between government
and local communities.
Promoting research in
the field of biodiversity
with its relevance to the
effects of climate
Support the enhancement
change to fill the
of biodiversity conservation
knowledge gap
between policy and activities in Gilgit- Baltistan;
practice. promote public and political
sensitization activities to
put biodiversity
conservation as one of the
top priority agendas
COP 26
• COP26 in Glasgow (Nov 1-12, 2021) united
UNFCCC signatory countries to address global
climate challenges, focusing on Paris Agreement
commitments for mitigation, adaptation, and
international cooperation.

• Outcomes featured renewed pledges for

ambitious climate action, a call for increased
finance, and heightened urgency to combat
climate change impacts, playing a pivotal role in
shaping international efforts against the crisis.
 Key Activities

Establish baseline Access to safe drinking

conditions of human health water and sustainable Develop and promote
risk of current climate operation & household water treatment
variability and recent maintenance of water options.
climate change. supply systems

Design health systems out-

Identifying those
populations and regions reach programs that could
that are most vulnerable to reach the designated
vector borne diseases areas for quick emergency
health services.
References
• https://pamirtimes.net/2023/07/11/climate-change-threatens-gilgit-b
altistans-ecosystem-a-wake-up-call/#:~:text=Three%20of%20the%20
World's%20seven,with%20respect%20to%20GLOF%20hazard
.
Thank You