Pakistan contributes less than 1%, or statistically 0.93%, to global carbon emissions, yet it ranks among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. Despite Pakistan’s lack of industrialization, as it is primarily an agrarian society contributing to 23% of GDP, the consequences of climate change extend beyond human control; they represent a collective penalty for humanity, even though a small fraction of the world’s population bears the brunt.

Pakistan contributes only 0.93% to global emissions yet ranks among the top ten most climate-vulnerable countries.

The COP29 conference, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 11th, pledged to boost financial support for developing countries from 100 to 300 billion dollars to address the effects of climate change. Pakistan needs much more than finance; it needs reforms, a policy framework, and an effective mechanism for a sustainable future. Green growth is a viable, eco-friendly, and low-cost alternative to protect the environment from climate change.

The devastating floods of 2022 exposed Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities, though Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts on international platforms gained the attention of the international community to assist in coping with climate change impacts. Despite receiving financial support, Pakistan still requires a durable climate resilience structure. Given the rapid increase in climate change, green growth presents a viable alternative for long-term solutions. Currently, Pakistan’s Green Growth Index score, at just 34, is unsatisfactory, placing it in the low score category.

This ranking suggests that Pakistan is not doing enough to address climate change. The adoption of an eco-friendly and resilient framework is hindered by traditional economic methods that rely on fossil fuels, industries that lack accountability, and a lack of individual maneuvers in socio-economic spheres of life.

The 2022 floods highlighted Pakistan’s climate vulnerability and the urgent need for sustainable resilience frameworks.

The energy and industrial sectors are the main contributors to the climate risk in Pakistan, which poses a significant challenge to the successful implementation of green reforms. Hydrocarbon burning in the energy sector and industrial CO2 emissions have the highest carbon footprint in Pakistan. Fossil fuels, accounting for 59% of the total capacity generation used in various sectors such as public, commercial, industrial, and agriculture, dominate Pakistan’s energy production.

Only 6% of Pakistan’s energy production originates from renewable energy sources, primarily solar and wind. While Nuclear energy contributes 20% in total. It is also considered a safe, environmentally friendly source of energy production unlike fossil fuels nuclear energy has no potential carbon footprint. It assures the SDG’s goal of clean, Safe, and affordable energy for long-term sustainable development and environmental protection.

The energy transition from non-renewable to renewable sources for clean, green, and low-cost production will help reduce CO2 emissions. An effective policy scheme is necessary for energy production, which aims to lower the cost of renewable energy sources by subsidizing an annual budget for household usage.

We urgently need industrial reforms to prevent unnecessary production within the industry. Degrowth in industrial production will help hold the industrial sector accountable and lower risks amidst rising climate vulnerabilities.

Only 6% of Pakistan’s energy production comes from renewables, with 59% relying on fossil fuels causing high carbon emissions.

We need to improve the current methods and techniques of cultivation in the agriculture sector to protect the fertility of land and water resources, while also addressing the other prerequisites of green growth. In Pakistan, the most common method of watering crops is irrigation flooding, which wastes 60% of the water. Poor irrigation techniques are not viable in the 21st century, where water scarcity is also a major challenge.

Advanced techniques in crop design and farming can enhance land productivity and conserve water resources by implementing sprinklers and drip irrigation systems, which have the potential to save up to 70% of water. However, the acceptance of these practices hinges on the awareness and recognition of agricultural reform at the micro level.

We need to take a number of actions to make green growth a reality for a sustainable climate and environment by, lowering the cost of public transportation to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Planting more trees and incentivizing individual acts of plantation and town planning for flood-resilient cities during monsoons and heavy rainy seasons is a prime example of how the concept of sponge cities can be implemented in flood-affected areas to lower the risk of flood-like situations.

The most compelling aspect is ensuring that all genders receive equal socio-economic opportunities, fostering an inclusive society, and leveraging human capital to promote gender equality across all societal domains. The defined goals of SDG, climate combat actions, water management, sustainable ecosystem, and building a peaceful society with gender equality can also be achieved by reevaluating our approaches and strategies with green growth reforms.

Adopting green growth strategies like drip irrigation, sponge cities, and renewable energy can build resilience and reduce emissions.

It may not immediately yield positive results, but it can achieve its intended effects on climate protection and socio-economic development through a long-term, systematic approach and policy framework.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.