NEXUS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND VULNERABILITY OF MARITIME SECTORS – CASE OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The seas and coasts worldwide are vulnerable to climate change because of being at the natural ecosystems, at the forefront of changing weather patterns. The maritime sector of any country has the potential to transform it into an economic force if sustained and managed properly. Oceans provide great ecosystem services, benefitting coastal communities in the process as well.  However, increasing vulnerabilities due to climate change impact the vital coastal areas. Rising sea levels may result in inundation of low-lying areas, degradation of crucial mangrove forests, compromised water quality, and disrupted ecosystem services. The convergence of natural and anthropogenic factors exposes Pakistan's maritime sectors to heightened vulnerability. A case of maritime sector’s vulnerability, studying Pakistan as a case, has been presented here in light of the changing properties of the Indian Ocean. The role of sustainable development in uplifting the local coastal communities and reducing vulnerability of the maritime sector has been explored in the study as well.