In a recent announcement, Pakistan has informed the international community of its ambitious plan to ensure that at least 30 percent of the vehicles used within the country are electric by the year 2030. This commitment aligns with Pakistan’s active participation as a co-chair, alongside Denmark and Norway, in the 32-nation Group of Friends on Sustainable Energy. The group shares a collective dedication to transitioning from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, Pakistan is also a member of the Group of Friends on Climate Change, which aims to promote the use of safe and renewable energy worldwide. During a virtual meeting held in New York, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram stressed the importance of adequate recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, particularly for developing countries, in order to fulfill their commitments to environmental preservation.
Ambassador Akram emphasized that if developing nations remain destitute or face humanitarian disasters, their ability to contribute effectively to environmental goals would be severely hindered. Urgent and immediate actions, therefore, are necessary to address these challenges.
In his capacity as the president of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Ambassador Akram called upon major emitters of harmful greenhouse gases to fulfill their obligations and create a safe and clean environment for all. He expressed optimism regarding positive indications from these nations, particularly the United States, under its new administration, and looked forward to their forthcoming commitments.
Highlighting the importance of climate finance, Ambassador Akram urged the leading nations of the world to honor their pledge of providing a hundred billion dollars annually for climate-related funding. He regarded this commitment as an acid test for many developing countries.
Pakistan, despite being one of the smallest emitters of carbon globally, is significantly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. Ambassador Akram reiterated Pakistan’s comprehensive plan encompassing adaptation and mitigation measures to combat these challenges. The country remains dedicated to achieving the targets outlined in various international agreements aimed at promoting clean energy.
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Pakistan is actively involved in championing investments in renewable energy and will continue to play a crucial role in this regard. Ambassador Akram also stressed the need for concrete progress in the transfer and deployment of technology to support developing nations.
Earlier in August, Pakistan unveiled its plan to boost the share of renewable energy to 30 percent by 2030, marking a significant increase from the current 4 percent. The initial phase aims to raise the share of renewables in the power mix to 30 percent by 2025, predominantly through the utilization of wind and solar power, as well as other sources like geothermal, tidal, wave, and biomass energy.
Moreover, Pakistan intends to enhance its hydropower capacity, with the goal of achieving a clean energy share of 65 percent in its electricity mix by 2030. However, potential challenges lie in the construction of seven additional coal-fired power plants as part of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which could impede the country’s progress toward its renewable energy objectives. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused delays in Pakistan’s transition to clean energy.
Pakistan has put forth an extensive and ambitious plan to transition to clean energy, increase the adoption of electric vehicles, and reduce its carbon emissions. The country seeks support from the international community in achieving these targets and urges major emitters to fulfill their commitments, emphasizing the importance of a safe and clean environment for all.
