CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF EXTREME HEAT, PUBLIC HEALTH, SOCIAL INEQUALITY, AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES: A CASE STUDY OF KARACHI

Abstract

Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan and one of the most densely populated cities globally, faces significant challenges due to climate change. The city's Climate Action Plan (KCAP) is a recent initiative aimed at addressing these challenges, highlighting Karachi's vulnerability to climate extremes such as heatwaves and flooding. The plan urges immediate climate action, emphasizing the need for adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of rising temperatures and severe weather events. Key Issues: Extreme Heat: Karachi has experienced record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures reaching dangerous levels, leading to health crises and increased mortality. In 2015, a severe heatwave claimed over 1,300 lives, illustrating the city’s susceptibility to climate-induced health risks. Public Health: Climate change has contributed to the outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, increasing morbidity and mortality rates among the population. The health impacts are a direct consequence of environmental changes disrupting the ecological cycle. Social Inequality: As climate extremes reshape daily life, they expose and exacerbate existing social inequalities within the city, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations.  Flooding: The city has been affected by catastrophic flooding due to extreme rainfall events in 2020 and 2022. These floods have modified existing infrastructure issues and highlighted inadequacies in urban governance and crisis response. A preliminary vulnerability assessment reveals that critical urban systems, especially drainage networks, transportation corridors, and low-lying residential zones, are highly prone to flood-related breakdowns. The assessment highlights how inadequate maintenance, suboptimal land-use planning, and insufficient adaptive mechanisms have heightened the city's overall susceptibility to extreme climate events. Commitment to Action: Karachi's recent re-entry into the C40 Cities network signifies a renewed commitment to tackling climate change and promoting sustainability. The city is actively seeking to implement strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing resilience to climate impacts. In response to the infrastructure failure, the government has implemented a series of measures, including the refurbishment of drainage infrastructure, enhancement of flood warning systems, and modification of building and zoning codes to minimize vulnerability in flood-prone areas. By drawing attention to these actions, this study aims to investigate their practical impact within the wider context of adaptation to climate hazards and urban robustness, accenting the disparity between policy formulation and field-level application.