MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OF PAKISTAN

PREVENTION AND SOLUTIONS

Prepared by:
SaadUllah Khan Niazi.
BSCE-15-122

Reviewed By
Professor Sir Zain Saeed
University of Lahore, Islamabad Campus.

April, 2018.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Objective
3. Environmental Issues In Pakistan
4. Causes Of Environmental Issues In Pakistan
4.1 Air Pollution
4.2 Water Pollution
4.3 Noise Pollution
4.4 Climate Change
4.5 Pesticide Misuse
4.6 Soil Erosion
4.7 Natural Disasters
4.8 Desertification
5. Coming Up With Realistic Solutions
6. Considering Indigenous Resources
7. Environmental Legislation
8. Responsibilities Of Local Communities
8.1. Making Sustainable Transportation Choices
8.2. Usage Of Public Transport
8.3. Consolidate Your Trips
8.4. Carpool To School Or Work
8.5. Consider Purchasing a Hybrid or Electric Car for Your Next
vehicle.
8.6. Reducing, Reusing, And Recycling
8.7. Keeping Chemicals Out Of The Water Supply
8.8. Getting Involved And Educate Others
8.9. Join An Environmental Group
1. Introduction.
Interactions between human society and the environment are constantly
changing. The environment, while highly valued by most, is used and altered
by a wide variety of people with many different interests and values.
Difficulties remain on how best to ensure the protection of our environment
and natural resources. The environment has become one of the most
important issues of our time and will continue to be well into the future. The
challenge is to find approaches to environmental management that give people
the quality of life they seek while protecting the environmental systems that
are also the foundations of our wellbeing.

2. Objective.
The purpose of this report is to determine the negative effects on our
environment caused by the people and to present possible solution that is
suitable among all of us.

3. Introduction to Environmental Issues In Pakistan

Environmental issues in Pakistan include deforestation, air pollution, water

pollution, noise pollution, climate change, pesticide misuse, soil erosion,
natural disasters and desertification. These are some of the most serious
problems our country is facing. But unfortunately, not much is being done to
prevent such problems as the country itself is facing terrorism, debt and other
problems which is causing a hindrance to deal with the environment.
30% of the population live in urban areas whereas the rest of the 70% live in
rural areas. They are highly stricken of poverty levels. Since there are no jobs
from the government nor private companies would like to go in rural areas,
these people have made their source of income on the natural resources.
This leads to further degradation of the environment and subsequently
increases poverty. This has led to what the World Bank refers to as a "vicious
downward spiral of impoverishment and environmental degradation."
Environmental problems and pollutions are very dangerous menace that the
modern world is facing today. Environmental problems are nearing
hazardous limits because people do not have awareness of its dangers.
Today world is talking about to remove the elements that are causing
environmental problems and making lives hard of people and animals. There
are many environmental problems in Pakistan that are causing Pakistan big
time.
The population of Pakistan is increasing rabidly with the passage of time. This
is dangerous for a country who relies on loans from the World Bank to keep
things running. If the population grows at the same rate, by the end of the
21st century, it will exceed more than 300million. That is more than the
population of the United States.
Floods will be common that would be harmful for Pakistan moreover the first
surface of earth would be flown with flood and land will be barren and water
under the earth will be polluted. Pakistan has limited sources but still it has
to resolve the pollution or environmental problems at priority bases.

4. The Causes of Environmental Issues

There are many causes in the environmental issues of Pakistan that we will
discuss in detail.

4.1 Air Pollution

Air is the most essential need of humans but really unfortunately air is more
polluted than others all today in our country. Smokes coming out from
factories, industries, homes and vehicles are causing of air pollution.

I would say that one of the most probable reasons of air pollution is the
manufacturing industries and it is really alarming situation for Pakistan that
with the passage of time manufacturing industries are increasing even in
residential areas.
The smokes of manufacturer industries are causing of air pollution because
of its dangerous gases. These deadly gases are so much dangerous for human
health. Chemical reactions can also be harmful for humans and as well as for
nature such as when sulfuric acid mix with water that help to make clouds
and when rain’s drops fall down it effect humans, trees animals etc.

Since there is no effective transportation system and money being hauled

away in projects such as Metro and Orange Train, majority of the population
are using their cars and bikes to go from one place to another. This burns
more fossil fuel and in return, Carbon Dioxide gets released in the air.

4.2 Water Pollution

Water pollution is second most dangerous factor that is causing of

environmental problems not only for Pakistan but also for other countries.
Water is need of every living thing on the earth in other words it is not possible
to live without water.
Most of Pakistani people are compel to drink the polluted water and this water
is causing deaths of people and causes seriously dangerous diseases. The
sewerage system in Pakistan is substandard due to this the sewerage water
is mixed with drinking and people drink this water so you can imagine how it
will be harmful for human body?
More than 8 million people in the world die from water borne diseases. Water
is not only essential for the people, but it is essential for the marine life. We
are not only killing ourselves with such waste water, but we are destroying
the homes of many beautiful creatures who depend on water for their survival.
This can lead to public health problems. For example, people living
downstream may use the same polluted river water for drinking or bathing or
irrigation.
Water pollution is a major global problem. It requires ongoing evaluation and
revision of water resource policy at all levels It has been suggested that water
pollution is the leading worldwide cause of death and diseases, and that it
accounts for the deaths of more than 14,000 people daily.

4.3 Noise Pollution

Every living thing on earth loves peaceful and comfortable environment. Noise
is an undesirable sound that destroys the peace of human’s minds.
Plenty of traffic on the road in shape of cars, bikes, rickshaws and other
vehicles are the main factors for noise pollution that are destroying the peace
of people of Pakistan.
Noise pollution is really common in Pakistan. With fast increase of population
this environmental problem is continuously increasing day by day in
Pakistan.
Since everyone uses cars for their transport, hence the noise pollution
increases a lot.

4.4 Climate Change

Pakistan contributes very little to the overall Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

emissions, but remains severely impacted by the negative effects of climate
change by the following ways:

 Glacier melt in the Himalayas is projected to increase flooding will

affect water resources within the next two to three decades. This will
be followed by decreased river flows over time as glaciers recede.
  Freshwater availability is also projected to decrease which will lead to
biodiversity loss and reduce availability of freshwater for the
population.

 Coastal areas bordering the Arabian Sea in the south of Pakistan will
be at greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and in some
cases, the rivers.

 Being a predominantly agriculture economy, climate change is

estimated to decrease crop yields in Pakistan which in turn will affect
livelihoods and food production. Combining the decreased yields with
the current rapid population growth and urbanization in the country,
the risk of hunger and food security will remain high.

 Endemic morbidity and mortality due to diseases primarily associated

with floods and droughts are expected to rise. Increases in coastal
water temperatures would exacerbate the abundance of cholera.

 The impact of climate change will also aggravate the existing social
inequalities of resource use and intensify social factors leading to
instability, conflicts, displacement of people and changes in migration
patterns.

People who live in poverty around the world will be hardest hit by climate
change. This is because the poor are more dependent on natural resources
and have less of an ability to adapt to a changing climate.
4.5 Pesticide Misuse

Pesticides are indiscriminately used on various crops like cotton, rice, sugar
cane and corn. Besides this, they are also being used on vegetables without
knowing how much harm is being inflicted on environment, as well as on
living beings.
It is extremely sad that these dangerous chemicals are freely available in
villages as well. There could be other alternatives which could be adopted to
control insects.
In Japan, they have stopped using pesticides and introduced ducks that eat
the worms in the rice crops without touching the crop itself.
Companies, both national and multinational, make a colossal profit through
sale proceeds. Pakistan is now a dumping ground for dangerous chemicals,
.whereas the world has opted for organic crops. The authorities concerned
should wake up, or else there will be no point of return.
4.6. Soil Erosion:

Around 16 million hectares of land, which amounts to 20 percent of the total

area of Pakistan, is affected directly or indirectly by soil erosion.
Out of the total eroded area, 11.2 million hectares are affected by water only.
A huge amount of rainwater is lost annually due to run-off in the Potohar
region.

This occurs due to various reasons, including high intensity and short spell
of rainfalls and lack of awareness among professionals and farmers about
watershed management and rainwater harvesting techniques.

This loss of water also leads to loss of fertile soil, which increases flood severity
in lowland areas and results in silting in dams, rivers and ponds, thereby
decreasing their storage capacity.

To prevent the aforementioned problems, the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Islamabad is carrying out a
‘Community Based Training Programme on Watershed Management for Flood
and Drought Control’.

This programme has been launched under phase two of ‘Strategic

Strengthening of Flood Warning and Management Capacity of Pakistan’ and
intends to impart techniques related to agriculture extension, soil
conservation and water management to farmers and relevant government and
semi-government professionals, NGOs and academia in Chakwal.

The programme also aims at developing flood forecasting and early warning
systems for effective coordination and management during floods.

4.7. Natural Disasters

It’s no surprise that Pakistan has a history of natural disasters coming its
way. From the 2005 earthquake to the 2010 floods. Natural disasters has
shaken this country from its roots.

Environmental issues in Pakistan have been disturbing the balance between

economic development and environmental protection.

As a big importer of renewable natural resources and a large consumer of

fossil fuels, Pakistan’s Ministry of Environment takes responsibility to
conserve and protect the environment; however unfortunately there are many
challenges.
Natural disasters collapse a region and a city. More and more environment is
destroyed. First, by natural disasters. And second, by human efforts to
rebuild what was destroyed.

Pakistan faces floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters which not only
effect the population at mass, but the environment surrounding it. Since
majority of the population lives in rural areas, they are the ones which get hit
the most.
4.8. Desertification:

Increasing desertification is turning vast swatches of fertile land into

parched areas and poses a risk to the global environmental sustainability.
It is also creating socio-economic instability in many countries of the world .
Afforestation, sustainable animal grazing, rainwater harvesting and effective
monitoring systems can effectively help fight the desertification.
‘Pakistan is close to becoming a desert’
Desertification is triggered by overgrazing, deforestation, depleting
groundwater and surface run-off.
The climate representatives from around 195 countries have assembled in
China to devise a global strategic framework that will guide global
‘desertification combating efforts’ under the convention from 2018-2030.
The dry-lands in parts of Baluchistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and
Punjab are experiencing increased land degradation and desertification
With rapid growth in the population, the effects of climate change were
taking hold and desertification had become a major source of concern for
the leadership.
As part of the global efforts to tackle desertification and drought, the
Pakistani government had devised a five-year Sustainable Land
Management Programme (SLMP) which was currently in the second phase
of implementation.
 5. Coming up with Realistic Solutions:
“This entire planet is our home. We are the only species that systematically
destroy our own habitat.”
— Marianne Williamson.
From the above quote we can see that Earth is not just a planet. Its our home.
If we don’t save it, who will?
Pollution prevention is a major concern for Pakistan because of its harmful
effects on people's health and the environment. Everyone is a stakeholder,
and every person has something to contribute to advance effective pollution
prevention awareness.
Environmental protection is a natural extension of caring for ourselves, loving
our children, and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
We should all, therefore, accept personal responsibility for the success of our
local environmental protection programs by actively participating in making
our atmosphere pollution-free.
We can each help combat pollution in our immediate environments, we can
do more by working to change legislation and policy on a larger scale.
Averting the onset of pollution in any area, be it in air or water or on land,
could be the simplest preventive solution. If there are no pollutants, there will
be no pollution.
And yet, this is easier said than done. Certain bad habits are entrenched and
industrial development as we know it seems to involve an expectation of
pollution.
Even the simplest preventive approaches are often quite complicated,
expensive, and difficult for a small business to implement.
Still, there are small changes we can make on the individual level that make
a difference, both in the short and long term.
“Breathing is life. We know that we can survive without food for several weeks and
without water for few days, but without oxygen, we will die in a matter of minutes.”
A List of Things we can do to prevent pollution:
Every action or inaction of any person has an effect on the environment—be
it good, neutral, or negative. By becoming aware and doing the right thing,
we choose to be part of the solution. Here are some things you can do:
 Stop smoking or don't throw your butts on the ground. Cigarette butts
are not biodegradable and contain extremely toxic soluble chemicals.
One butt thrown on the ground can remain for up to 25 years.
 Drive an electric or hybrid car.
 Keep your car in good running condition to avoid emissions.
  Share a ride or carpool.
 Choose to walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible.
 Never use open fires to dispose of waste, especially chemicals and
plastic.
 Use sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled building materials.
 Start composting leaves and clippings from your yard and food scraps
from your kitchen to reduce waste while improving your soil.
 Buy local foods and goods.
 Look around you house or place of business for ways you could
conserve water.
 Use and buy products that are eco-friendly or made with biodegradable
materials. Avoid plastic.
 Always bring a bag when you shop.
 Get rid of your lawn: Plant bee-friendly, drought-tolerant, native plants
instead.
 Plant more trees. They clean the air, provide oxygen, and beautify your
surroundings.
 Take care to properly dispose of your pet's waste.
 Do not litter. Start an anti-litter campaign to educate your community.
 If you own a business, make sure you have considered the
environmental impact of your business practices
 Say a big "NO" to pesticides.
 Join an Earth Day celebration (every April 22nd) and consider making
its tenets an everyday practice.

6. Considering Indigenous Resources

Pakistan had a total area of almost 4% which was covered with trees. Trees
are an important part of any country when it comes to absorbing Carbon
Dioxide from the air. Now, the total area of the trees are less than 2%.
Main reason being the urbanization and people from the rural areas
depending on the natural resources for their income.
Native species of tall and shady trees including Pipal, Barghad, Siris, Toot and
Neem are needed today to fight the monster of environmental pollution that
has become a global threat.
It is the height of apathy that native trees are on the verge of becoming extinct
due to the present fashion of planting small-sized bushy plants, which
scarcely have the power to fight pollutant gases.
According to a research, tall and shady trees having high canopy absorb
pollutant gases a hundred times more than the in-fashioned small-sized
bushy species of various plants, which have replaced the tall trees of the past.
The decorative plants do not help fight air pollution as they are small-sized
and not on the height where trees and gases could interact.
The environmental degradation costs our country 6 per cent of the GDP,
which is Rs365billion per year.
Surge in diseases, cost of medicine and medical treatment is result of air
pollution. In Pakistan air pollution contributes to 50 per cent of premature
mortalities. It can be reduced with native trees if these are planted in the City
limits and in houses.
Pakistan’s north-western province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), has planted
an unprecedented 1 billion trees in just more than two years and surpassed
an international commitment of restoring 350,000 hectares of forests and
degraded land.
The massive effort aims to turn the tide on land degradation and loss in the
mountainous, formerly forested KPK, which lies in the Hindu Kush mountain
range.
Pakistan is very fertile land. About 70% of the people live in rural areas. If
each of us, and on government level focuses on planting trees and promote
rural areas, air, water and land pollution could fall tremendously as trees
would absorb the Carbon Dioxide being released in the air every second.

7. Environmental Legislation
Laws in Pakistan related to the environment:
There are more than 100 laws regarding the environment in Pakistan. These
include federal, provincial and international laws, regulations, statutes and
treaties. Some important environmental laws of Pakistan are stated below in
a brief way.
Federal:
Some of the Federal laws are as follows:
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997
2. The Environmental Samples Rules, 2001
3. The Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005
4. The Pakistan Bio-safety Rules, 2005
 5. The National Environmental Quality Standards (Self-Monitoring
and Reporting by Industry) Rules, 2001

Provincial Laws
Punjab
1. The Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and
Management) Act, 1974
2. The Punjab Firewood and Charcoal (Restriction) Act, 1964
3. The Punjab Forest (Sale of Timber) Act, 1913
4. The Punjab Plantation and Maintenance of Trees Act, 1974
5. The Punjab Juvenile Smoking Ordinance, 1959
Baluchistan
1. The Baluchistan Wildlife Protection Act, 1974
2. The Baluchistan Forest Regulation, 1890
3. The Baluchistan Prohibition of Expressing Matters on Walls
Ordinance, 2001
4. The Baluchistan Hospital Waste Management Council Ordinance,
2001
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. The North-West Frontier Province Forest Ordinance, 2002
2. The North-West Frontier Province Protection of Trees and Brushwood
Act, 1949
3. The North-West Frontier Province Forest Development Corporation
Ordinance, 1980
4. The North-West Frontier Province Rivers Protection Ordinance, 2002
5. The Hazara District Protected Forest Rules, 1973
Sindh
1. The Sindh Wild-life Protection Ordinance, 1972
2. The Sindh Wildlife Protection Rules, 1972
3. The Sindh Plantation, Maintenance of Trees and Public Parks
Ordinance, 2002
There are many environment laws which are there to protect our environment
as well as animals. But unfortunately they are long forgotten due to no check
and regulatory. There are no departments which are working. And even if
there are, they are not doing what they were supposed to be doing in the first
place.
For example,
The Cutting of Trees (Prohibition) Act, 1992;
An act to provide for the prohibition of cutting of trees near the external
frontiers of Pakistan If a person violates the law he will be punished by a fine
up to 5000 rupees.
As seen from the above example of a law which was formed 26 years ago, but
it isn’t implemented whatsoever. Our forests are being reduced to less than
2%.
If we don’t act and if the government stays shut on such vigorous problems,
Pakistan may become a barren land with no trees; equivalent to The Sahara
desert.

8. Responsibilities of Local Communities

8.1 Making Sustainable Transportation Choices

Walk or ride your bike whenever possible. One of the best things one can do
to help stop pollution is to stop using your car for short trips. If the weather
is nice and you don’t have too far to go, consider walking or riding your bike.
You will help reduce air pollution and you will get some exercise and fresh air
in the process.

8.2 Usage of Public Transport

Riding the bus, train, or subway is another great way to avoid using your
personal vehicle and reduce carbon emissions. If you have access to good
public transportation where you live, take advantage of it. Since you won’t
have to worry about keeping your eyes on the road, you can take advantage
of the time to read, catch up on news, or just relax.
8.3 Consolidate your trips

Making lots of little trips over the course of a few days contributes more
pollution to the environment every time you hop in your car. Instead of
running your errands over the course of a few days, try to consolidate them
into one round trip.
Consolidating your trips into one long trip will also save you money since
starting your car when the engine is cold consumes 20% more fuel than
driving your car.
8.4 Carpool to school or work

Long commutes to school or work are just part of life for many people. If
walking and public transportation are not good options for you, consider
joining a carpool to your school or place of work. By taking turns driving and
riding with others, you will reduce carbon emission and you will also save on
gas money each week. Carpooling is also a great way to develop friendships
with your co-workers and reduce the stress of your commute.
8.5 Consider purchasing a hybrid or electric car for your
next vehicle.

Electric cars run on electricity alone, so they are zero emission vehicles.
Hybrid cars use a combination of electricity and fuel to run. While electric
cars are the least polluting, both options will help stop pollution. Although
they still use some gas to run, hybrid cars have much better fuel economy
than regular cars and emit fewer greenhouse gases than traditional cars.
Electric has many benefits to the environment:
No Gas Required:
Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you
don’t need to buy any gas ever again. Driving fuel based cars can burn a hole
in your pocket as prices of fuel have gone all time high? With electric cars,
this cost can be avoided as an average American spends $2000 – $4000 on
gas each year. Though electricity isn’t free, an electric car is far cheaper to
run.
Savings:
These cars can be fuelled for very cheap prices, and many new cars will offer
great incentives for you to get money back from the government for going
green. Electric cars can also be a great way to save money in your own life.
No Emissions:
Electric cars are 100 percent eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered
engines. It does not emit toxic gases or smoke in the environment as it runs
on clean energy source. They are even better than hybrid cars as hybrids
running on gas produce emissions. You’ll be contributing to a healthy and
green climate.

Safe to Drive:
Electric cars undergo same fitness and testing procedures test as other fuel
powered cars. In case an accident occurs, one can expect airbags to open up
and electricity supply to cut from battery. This can prevent you and other
passengers in the car from serious injuries.

Cost Effective:
Earlier, owing an electric car would cost a bomb. But with more technological
advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down. The mass
production of batteries and available tax incentives have further brought
down the cost, thus, making it much more cost effective.

Reduced Noise Pollution:

Electric cars put curb on noise pollution as they are much quieter. Electric
motors are capable of providing smooth drive with higher acceleration over
longer distances.
Low Maintenance:
Electric cars runs on electrically powered engines and hence there is no need
to lubricate the engines. Other expensive engine work is a thing of past.
Therefore, the maintenance cost of these cars has come down. You don’t need
to send it to service station often as you do a normal gasoline powered car.
8.6 Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

Buy used items whenever possible. By buying used products, you will help
reduce the demand for new materials to be created. You will also save money.
Check local thrift shops, used furniture and appliance stores, and local ads
to find used items
Lots of waste is generated by disposable cups, plates, utensils and storage
containers for food. Instead of contributing to the waste in landfills by using
disposable dinnerware, primarily use reusable items
The packaging used to protect food requires new raw materials and energy to
create. Buy foods that use minimal packaging, such as bulk items or
unpackaged produce. If you must buy something that is packaged, try to
choose items with the least amount of packaging possible.
Avoid buying products packaged with Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a common
packaging material, but it contributes too much of the waste in landfills
because it is difficult to recycle. Styrofoam production also contributes to
pollution through the release of hydrocarbons.
Almost everything that you buy can be recycled. Try to avoid products that do
not have a recycle symbol on the package or that are made of mixed materials
that may not be easy to recycle.
By purchasing items that have been made from recycled materials, you will
be helping to reduce the amount of new materials that need to be produced.

8.7 Keeping Chemicals Out of the Water Supply

Chemicals we use to wash our homes, cars and even our bodies get washed
down the drain and into the sewer system, but they often end up in the
groundwater.
These chemicals aren't good for the plants and animals that make up our
ecosystems, and they aren't healthy for human consumption, either.
Whenever possible, use natural, healthy alternatives to chemicals.
Don't use pesticides and herbicides. These powerful chemicals are sprayed
directly over the ground, and when it rains they seep deeper and get into the
groundwater.
You probably just want aphids to stop eating your tomatoes, but spraying the
garden with pesticide will do a lot more than that when it gets into the
groundwater that humans and other organisms need to survive.
Don't flush medication. Large doses of medication are difficult for water
sanitation systems to remove from the water supply, and they end up
impacting everyone who drinks the water.
Each medication on the market has specific instructions for how it should be
disposed. If you need to throw medication away, find out the proper way to do
it instead of resorting to flushing.
Conserve water. It's important to take good care of the water we do have and
conserve it as much as possible. Wasting water uses up a valuable resource
and has a big effect on the environment.
It's easy to take measures in your daily life that help you use less water and
preserve the health of your region's ecosystems. Here are a few ways to save
water:
8.8 Getting Involved and Education Others:

Learn about the major polluters in your area. Go to your library, do internet
research, and talk to people who can tell you about the major sources of
pollution where you live. Learning as much as you can will help you have a
better understanding about pollution.
While individuals can do their part to keep the air and water clean,
corporations with environmentally damaging industrial practices are the main
culprits.
In order to protect the water and air where you live, it's important to find out
what's putting them in danger.
Tell people about what you know. Even though a lot of people are concerned
about stopping air pollution, many don't understand the severity of the
problem or aren't sure what to do about it.
Since you've done some research on pollution, use your knowledge to make a
difference by talking about it with other people. The more people know about
pollution, the more likely we will collectively find a way to stop it.
Write an article for your school or local newspaper. Spreading the word by
publishing information about how to stop pollution is a great way to help
others become more aware of the problem.
Pen an editorial that discusses both the problem and solutions that people
can begin to implement in their daily lives starting right away.

8.9 Join an environmental group:

There might be an existing group working on stopping pollution in your area.

If you can't find one, you and your friends might start a group that meets once
a week or more often to discuss issues and brainstorm ideas for what you can
do to help.
Get others to join by spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter and by posting
signs around your neighbourhood. Host events that will help spread the word
about pollution and give people the opportunity to do something about it. Here
are a few ideas for events:
 Hold a river or creek clean-up.
 Host a screening of a documentary about pollution.
 Visit schools to talk to kids about how they can help stop pollution.
 Contact your local representative to speak up about your views on
keeping water chemical-free.
 Join a group that plants trees to help clean the air.
 Become a bike activist. Work to have safe paths built in your city.