The Global Climate Risk Index ranks Pakistan as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change. The country has been experiencing extreme weather events in recent history and the situation is expected to get direr as temperatures are projected to increase by up to 4.9°C by the end of the century, exacerbating heatwaves, droughts, and water shortages. In response to this, there is a need for rigorous economic and social transformation through public and private sector partnerships.
Pakistan has been committed to climate conscious socio-economic change for as long as the rest of the world. It has been a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 1992. The UNFCCC aims to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations to prevent harmful human impact on climate. The Paris Agreement, introduced under the UNFCCC in 2016, is a binding treaty designed to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, with a focus on building climate resilience, securing financial flows for climate action, and promoting sustainable development. As part of its obligations, each country submits its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Commitments made to reduce GHG emissions as part of efforts towards climate change mitigation. These include necessary policies and measures for achieving the global targets set out in the Paris Agreement. Pakistan presented its first set of NDCs in 2016, and updated them with more ambitious goals in 2021.
Empowered civil society efforts can drive sustainable climate action in Pakistan, ensuring that climate strategies align with local needs and international support.
The 2016 NDCs focused on the main contributors to Pakistan’s emissions: the energy and the agriculture sector. Therefore, the mitigation strategies were centred around increased efficiency in energy procurements such as the promotion of renewable energy, and the expansion of coal and nuclear energy to meet growing energy demands. Adaptation priorities included enhancing water management and flood resilience, with an estimated adaptation cost ranging between USD 7 to 14 billion annually. The NDCs acknowledged that a significant increase in emissions was expected owing to industrialization and upcoming large-scale projects and therefore outlined the country’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 20% by 2030. However, this reduction was contingent on receiving international financial support of approximately USD 40 billion. Another shortcoming of these NDCs was the planned reliance on coal and nuclear energy which has a harmful impact on local communities and is counterintuitive to reducing GHG.
The 2021 NDCs were more ambitious and reflected a shift towards a broader, more comprehensive climate strategy. The 2016 target of reduction in projected emissions by 2030 was increased to 50%, comprising a 15% decrease from domestic resources, with the remaining 35% contingent on international financial assistance. The domestic resources were to include, renewable energy expansion, large-scale afforestation through the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, and transitions within the transportation sector, such as adopting electric vehicles. This would also involve utilizing Pakistan’s indigenous financial resources, including public funds and local investments in renewable energy infrastructure, and scaling up nature-based solutions like afforestation. One notable contribution of the updated NDCs was an introduction of new sectors and gases such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), and a greater emphasis on “nature-based solutions” (NbS) like the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme. The updated NDCs also underlined the role of shifting away from conventional energy sources, aiming for 60% of energy from renewable sources by 2030, and for 30% of new vehicles sold to be electric by the same year. Additionally, Pakistan committed to banning the use of imported coal for power generation. Climate disaster adaptation efforts were also emphasized, such as the “Recharge Pakistan” initiative, which focuses on flood resilience and water recharge in the Indus Basin, along with plans to increase protected areas and promote eco-tourism. Because these NDCs are more ambitious, rigorous, and cover a broader area, the financial requirements for implementing these goals have grown significantly, with USD 101 billion needed by 2030 for the energy transition alone, making it even more vital that Pakistan gets technological and financial support from the international community.
As countries, including Pakistan, gear up for revision of NDCs in 2025, transitioning to a climate-conscious economy demands substantial financial resources for infrastructure upgrades, technology development, and workforce training. Renewable energy projects and energy-efficient buildings require high upfront capital, which can strain domestic budgets, particularly in developing countries. Pakistan has a huge dependency on fossil fuels, especially coal, to meet the country’s energy demands. Green technology, such as carbon capture or renewable energy storage, is costly and may need to be imported, adding to expenses. Funding is essential for building a skilled workforce, supporting research and development, and ensuring that climate strategies are adapted to local needs, like water management and crop resilience. Financial resources also support climate adaptation for vulnerable communities by funding disaster-preparedness programs and climate-resilient agriculture. Implementing effective policies and regulatory frameworks requires institutional development, and these frameworks are vital for ensuring compliance and sustainable impact. The acquisition of this sustained climate finance is one of the greatest challenges facing Pakistan on its journey towards a climate conscious economy. In addition, the country also faces challenges such as political instability, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and weak enforcement of environmental regulations which further complicate efforts to meet the NDC goals.
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) can play a vital role in helping the country mitigate impact of climate change on local communities. Through advocacy, technical support, and community engagement, CSOs bridge the gap between policy-making and ground-level realities. In Pakistan, there is great opportunity for the civil society to step in and engage in climate action. Currently, some organisations such as the Environmental Protection Foundation, LEAD Pakistan, and factions of the Social Development and Policy Institute (SDPI), Rural Support Program Networks (RSPN), and Pakistan Renewables Energy Coalition are acting as private entity contributions towards achieving the NDCs. They push the government to align national climate targets with global goals, stressing transparency, accountability, and climate justice to protect vulnerable populations. Their focus is on empowering local communities, especially those highly affected by climate change, by promoting sustainable practices and disaster preparedness. These CSOs are helping align the country’s climate strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and coordinate climate finance efforts. They also advocate for formal communication channels between the government and stakeholders, and the creation of independent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and accountability in implementing Pakistan’s NDCs. However, one of their most notable contributions is acting as a liaison to help the government secure climate finance by coordinating with international donors to ensure financial support for NDC implementation.
Establishing legal frameworks to formalize CSO roles in climate decision-making, will empower CSOs to act as equal partners in climate strategy, ensuring their insights and on-the-ground experience are integrated into national planning. They will also need sustained financial support.
Unfortunately, CSOs in Pakistan face several challenges that limit their full participation in the NDC process. These include limited access to critical information on climate policies, inadequate and short-term financial support, a lack of technical capacity, and exclusion from meaningful decision-making due to inadequate public-private coordination. These gaps limit a CSO’s ability to effectively influence the national climate agendas.
Multi-stakeholder coordination will be an essential tool in the path towards achieving the country’s NDC goals. It is therefore imperative that steps are taken to encourage CSO engagement. Establishing legal frameworks to formalise CSO roles in climate decision-making, will empower CSOs to act as equal partners in climate strategy, ensuring their insights and on-the-ground experience are integrated into national planning. They will also need sustained financial support. CSOs often rely on short-term grants which limit them from engaging in long-term initiatives. With financial support, CSOs can scale up their operations, provide continuous support to communities, and work on a broader array of mitigation and adaptation projects. CSOs are in need for enhanced technical capacity through regular training. Increasing technical expertise will equip them with skills in data analysis, climate finance, policy advocacy, and project management. These capabilities would enable CSOs to make more substantial contributions to the NDC review process and implementation. Moreover, improved communication between governments and CSOs with regular consultations and updates on NDC progress would allow for transparent discussions on challenges, progress, and adjustments needed to stay on track with NDC goals. Climate action is a race against time, and CSO engagement will lend a helpful hand to the government in achieving its ambitious climate combating and adapting targets.