Pakistan submits climate action plan to UN body

Fails to make any specific commitments

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan finally submitted its action plan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat on Thursday, after missing the October 1 deadline.

In the Climate Action Plan, Pakistan did not make any specific commitments. It says the country would only be able to make specific commitments once reliable data on peak emission levels was available.



The process of calculating future emission projections through detailed studies and analysis is underway, according to the submission.

Pakistan contributes 0.8 per cent in green house gas emissions globally, but it is one of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change disasters.

In its intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), Pakistan expressed its commitment to the UN convention.



The submission said that Pakistan would actively engage with the international community in the development of responsive global climate governance.

Together with other parties, Pakistan will promote and support low-carbon, climate-resilient development, the INDCs state.

Pakistan, has however committed to reduce its emissions after reaching peak levels to the extent possible, subject to affordability, provision of international climate finance and transfer of technology.

In the wake of work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the emissions are likely to increase significantly.



Pakistan’s INDCs, rooted in its ‘Vision 2025’ were submitted in compliance with the decision taken at the 20th session of the conference of the UNFCCC in Lima, Peru.

Pakistan’s development needs are expected to grow necessitating the requirement of affordable sources of power generation, development of infrastructure and enabling industry to take a lead role in meeting the transformation.

The green house gases emission projections along with possibility of economy wide mitigation and cost of its abatement will be determined after completing this exercise.

“Adaptation to impacts of climate change is a vast area of untapped opportunities in the country due to the multi-sectoral nature of its economy, huge infrastructure needs, climatic zones, and ecological systems,” the plan says.



The investment costs for adaptation interventions were being determined by the Pakistan government, in consultation with the provinces and other stakeholders.

So far, 161 countries have formally submitted their INDCs to the secretariat.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2015.