The effects of climate change are beginning to appear in many countries of the world. These countries already are struggling to cope with climate change extremes and global warming.

The developed countries of the world have agreed that climate change is a serious problem faced by us and the world will face further challenges if we do not act now.

Most countries around the world have undertaken urgent steps to formulate local and national level policies to address this issue. In fact, many countries are already implementing these policies at all levels of government. Climate change effects and impacts are inevitable, and the world will experience its consequence in the coming years.

These impacts include coastal erosion due to sea surges, land claims by rising waters, loss of coastal habitats and marine life as well as the loss of coastal communities and their livelihoods in the next fifty to a hundred years. We can however slow this process down by adapting to new technologies and energy sources (Pers. Comm Humera Rind). The coastline of the Makran region is being into a landfall i.e. where the sea meets the land.

Makran coastal communities are already feeling the impacts of climate change, and it is already affecting their lives and livelihoods. For example, an increase in coastal storm surges, poor water quality, short of fishing grounds, and coastal erosion. Faced with these catastrophic environmental challenges the next question is being asked how humans can live with these challenges. To address this challenge, many governments around the world are adopting and investing in renewable energy sources.

Governments around the world are bringing in local knowledge and adopting innovation and technology to address this and to slow down the impact of climate change (Pers. Comm Humera Rind). It is recognized that countries most affected by climate change have very little contribution to global greenhouse emissions compared to the developed countries.

During the industrialization period, the developed countries (United Kingdom, Europe, America, etc.) have released a vast number of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere thus affecting the course of nature. The developed countries are now trying to reverse this trend by adapting to new ways of economic growth called green economy and sustainable development.

Learning from the past, developing countries such as Pakistan could take this opportunity to invest in a more sustainable future to mitigate climate change impacts. We should be stopping the growing concertation of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere and prevent catastrophic climate extremes.
We can get rid of coal power plants and replacing with renewable energy, using low sulfur energy sources, modifying our status-quo, moving away from our stagnant mindset which is stuck with the nineteenth-century century economic growth models.

If all of us start addressing this pressing issue now, hopefully, our next generation will see the benefits and we will go in history with a success, not a failure (Pers. Comm Humera Rind). In 2016, Pakistan was the 104th country to sign the Paris Climate change agreement at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York. This means Pakistan is obliged to keep greenhouse gas emissions below two-degree centigrade levels.
According to many marine experts, the negative impacts of climate change are beginning to be seen in Pakistan and the coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh.

Water levels in the Arabian Sea are rising by an average of five millimeters per year, while the coastal area of Makran is also experiencing an increase in the duration of summer. According to a report published by British Broadcasting Corporation, Pakistan is experiencing extraordinary climate change extremes and concluded that the temperature in the barren coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh have increased from 0.6 to 1 degree Celsius.
Tourism plays a vital role in developing the coastal economy. In addition to trade, tourism plays a vital role in enhancing the beauty of coastal areas. The developed countries are taking steps by spending millions of dollars to promote eco-tourism.

It has not only a lucrative business locally but increases the national treasury and provides job opportunities. On the other hand, the situation in the Makran coastline is such that piles of rubbish and dirt are accumulating and visible to all passersby. The pile of rubbish along the coast has not only tarnished the beauty of the coast; the stench also deterring people and tourists from visiting the coastal towns. In addition to this many water birds and animals are moving away from the coast.

It is observed by the locals that there has been a sharp decline in the migratory birds’ stop-overs including the popular Siberian waterfowl. According to marine experts that waterfowl and animals move away from any coastal area if they feel insecure or threatened. It was also reported by the local coastal communities that inadequate waste management and the unsustainable use of plastic nets along the coasts have seen a serious and significant decline in the number of nesting turtles in the coastal areas.

According to a survey conducted by an international organization, marine pollution in the Arabian Sea is increasing at an alarming rate. The increasing level of pollution in the marine environments is attributed an inadequate liquid and solid waste management in the megacities such as Karachi, Mumbai, etc. along the Arabian Sea. The most vulnerable victims of this pollution are marine crustaceans, fish (large and small), and turtles, causing death and having a negative impact on the Arabian Seawater quality.

According to marine biologists, water pollution not only threatens aquatic life but also causes the extinction of many species. Other consequences of aquatic/marine life are to leave their present habitat and move to safer and cleaner waters.
Over reliant on plastic products and unsustainable use of plastic bags are evident all along the beautiful coastline of Pasni in Balochistan. According to experts that plastic bags last for 400 to 450 years or even greater depending on the type of plastics. Plastics over time break down into smaller particles called micro-plastics.

These micro-plastics get into our food chain and cause the death of marine animals and plants as well as cause dire health risk to humans. Experts suggest that to protect the coast from pollution, the coastline must be cleaned from all pollutions on and a regular basis.
The beauty of our beaches can be enhanced by adopting clean energy, waste management, community education, and implementing law and enforcement by our local and national authorities/agencies. The coastal community of Balochistan urges the local government to work on an emergency basis to protect our aquatic/marine life in the coastal area of Makran to stope further harms and degradation.