Flooding is the hazard Pakistan is at risk from the most . Increasing glacial melt from the Himalayan ranges as a result of rising global temperatures swells the rivers and tributaries of the Indus River Basin, inundating large parts of the country every year since 2010. At the same time, since these glacial reserves supply more than 70% of river flows in Pakistan, glacial recession is expected to decrease river flows within the next two to three decades.
This paper aims to raise awareness about Loss and Damage (L&D) and ignite conversation about how Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Loss & Damage (L&D) can be linked in order to ensure more sustainable strategies for building resilience in Pakistan.
Key recommendations:
- Pakistan needs to develop a national level, integrated multi-hazard L&D database for systematic vulnerability and risk monitoring to ensure planning on L&D is complemented with accurate information
- the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) needs to set up a national mechanism within its existing structure for the sole responsibility in dealing with L&D on a national scale
- the conversation on L&D needs to occur in parallel with adaptation efforts in Pakistan
- L&D costs need to be measured using conventional methodologies and indicators
- it is critical Pakistan complies with the stipulations of the Paris Agreement as this will make a strong case for both monetary and technical assistance needed for L&D
- there needs to be a clear and sensitive communications strategy for mainstreaming the concept of L&D into public and policy discourse