Climate Change as A Catalyst for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness
Climate change is a profound phenomenon that influences our environment in ways that not only create new problems but also intensify the existing ones. Drawing from comprehensive research, this article explores how climate change fosters change in policies and practices to counter such risks. A mixed method approach was implemented for this study, the first phase includes a quantitative analysis of existing policies, and the second phase includes a qualitative analysis. For this research paper, only qualitative findings of research are presented and discussed. Thematic areas include the impact of climate change on natural disasters, socio-economic implications, resilient urban planning and infrastructure development, mainstreaming climate science into DRR and emergency preparedness, international collaboration and policy formulation, and community-based approaches and indigenous knowledge integration. Study shows complicated interdependencies and cause-and-effect interactions between climate parameters and natural disasters.
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Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR), Climate Change, Ethnography, Resilient Urban Planning, Sustainable Management, Green Climate Fund, Disaster Mitigation, Indigenous Knowledge Integration, Sendai Framewor
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(1) Mian Haris Farooq
PhD Scholar, Department of International Relations, Muslim Youth University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(2) Abid Ghafoor Chaudhry
Associate Professor & Chairman, Department of Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan
(3) Muhammad Fahim Khan
Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Muslim Youth University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pedestrian Experiences in a Megacity: A Case Study of Walkability in Johar Block-15, Karachi, Pakistan
In the dynamic urban landscape of Johar Block-15, Karachi, this research investigates residents' perceptions of walkability, a crucial aspect of urban life. Survey data reveals significant concerns about safety, overall walkability, cleanliness, infrastructure adequacy, and connectivity to amenities. Most respondents express dissatisfaction and emphasize prioritizing and investing in enhancing walkability. Accessibility problems resulting from choking and poor roads also affect the area’s pedestrian host factor in terms of traffic and maintenance. However, 68.18% of the respondents use walking for small distances, showing the relevance of walking in developed countries' mobility systems. These recommendations will be helpful to urban planners and policymakers in putting a focus on improving the quality of life of the people living in Johar Block-15 and every other block.
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Pedestrian Accessibility, Environment, Karachi City, Live Perception; Pedestrian Movement, Environment, Urban Planning, Sustainable Environment
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(1) Afraz Ahmed Memon
MCRP (Master of City and Regional Planning), Department of City and Regional Planning, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
(2) Imtiaz Ahmed Chandio
Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan.
(3) Rabia Soomro
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Campus, Khairpur Mir's, Sindh, Pakistan.
Natural Disasters and Built Environment: Reconstruction and Rehabilitation after the Earthquake (2005) in Balakot, Pakistan
After the earthquake and the loss of life and property, the reconstruction and rehabilitation process was challenging. It was also hotly debated and involved controversies. Large amounts of funds were used to help the victims of the earthquake. Some of these funds were made available immediately. Some funds were promised as pledges to be paid over time and were for the reconstruction, rebuilding, and rehabilitation of the people. On the other hand, the government, just as the area's people, found itself completely untrained and unprepared for a calamity of this size. The turning point in rebuilding and rehabilitation came in 2021 with a new plan from the government. While the project of New Balakot City remained intact, the new plan changed the nature and direction of the project by proposing the city be made a tourist destination. In the long run, the process of rebuilding and reconstruction failed.
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Reconstruction, Earthquake Rehabilitation, Balakot, Disaster Management, Post-Disaster Urban Planning
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(1) Ghazala Rafi
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Islamia College, Peshawar; KP, Pakistan.
(2) Muhammad Ayub Jan
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar; KP, Pakistan.
(3) Syed Sami Raza
Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar, KP, Pakistan.