Carbon emissions grew by 105 percent during 20 years: ADB

Over the last 20 years, carbon emissions in Pakistan grew by 105 percent from 152.79 million tons in 1990 to 313.48 million tons in 2010. According to a report of the Asian Development Bank, the significant increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly attributed to the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil for electricity, transport and those in manufacturing industries. This includes industries producing fertilisers (ammonia), cement, alternative fuels (methane and ethanol) and iron and steel (>45 percent of CO2 emissions came from the industrial sector). Likewise, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry and other human activities have also upped GHG concentrations. GHG emission will be further increased with the anticipated shift to coal-based power generation houses in the near future to decrease the existing electricity shortfall, the report added.
Meeting the country's energy needs and the quest for economic growth presented a huge challenge to reduce the country's GHG levels, the ADB report suggested that Pakistan will therefore need a portfolio of low-carbon technologies to reduce greenhouse gases in the shortest possible time to avoid more serious effects of the climate change. Renewable energies (REs) will clearly play a critical role in moving the country to a low carbon future but the challenge of reducing emissions and simultaneously increasing energy source is daunting. REs contribution in the energy mix remains low that even with a rapid increase in its use is unlikely to meet energy demand and reduce GHG. With coal becoming a dominant source of energy across all sectors, CCS will be a critical technology for meeting the country's goal of reducing GHG. The new National Climate Change Policy underscores this need to develop low carbon technologies, specifically CCS for energy and other sectors like industries, agriculture and transport.
The technical assistance of ADB will support Pakistan in the implementation of its national climate change policy, particularly in mitigating the climate change through development of greenhouse gases reduction technologies. The technical assistance will also explore the potential of CCS by developing demonstration roadmaps, engaging in dialogues with public and private sectors and drafting relevant policy statements. ADB's technical assistance will specifically look into CO2 emitting sectors such as industrial processes, energy, agriculture and transport for the purpose of determining best type of demonstration roadmaps.
The technical assistance will also be improved capacity in planning and management of demonstration project in Pakistan.