Climate Change in Loralai, Balochistan: Environmental, social, and economic impacts in an International Relations context
Keywords:
Climate Change, Resilience, Loralai, Balochistan, Adaptation, Socio-economic Impacts, International RelationsAbstract
Climate change poses serious threats to vulnerable regions especially in the Balochistan province in the arid and semi-arid areas. The study investigates the environmental, social and economic consequences of climate change in Loralai District aimed to shed light on the felt climate changes and adaptation strategies of local communities. The study conducted through qualitative interviews reveals that increasing temperatures, inconsistent rainfall and frequent droughts are some of the key environmental challenges, while their impact on agriculture, water availability, and biodiversity is felt. These changes have impacted people's livelihoods, driven migration pressure, and undermined the resilience of communities, particularly of those that have been marginalized. The reduction in productivity and loss of livestock value has also led to increased poverty and unemployment, perpetuating a cycle of vulnerability. The research highlights Loralai as a case study to inform the ongoing discussion on climate change, resilience and adaptation in South Asia and locates it in an International Relations framework which brings the local to the international, to the discourse of international security and to the policy landscape on sustainable futures.
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