Coal plants, likely double-digit growth: government acknowledges increase in GHG emissions

Federal government has acknowledged that coal-fired power plants and a (government) projected double-digit growth during the next 10 years would increase Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, well-informed sources told Business Recorder. Ministry of Climate Change recently informed the Federal Cabinet that the 21st session of the Conference of Parties (COP-21) adopted the Paris Agreement, which has been signed by Pakistan.
The sources said, every member country of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was required to submit to the secretariat its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) towards stabilization of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Pakistan's INDCs was an interim response in the form of a brief document due to lack of data that could have allowed the estimation of future GHG emissions.The cabinet was further informed that after COP-21 and with the approval of Terms of Reference (ToRs) by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif , Climate Change Division, along with a team of experts, undertook exhaustive consultations with stakeholders and prepared an INDC report.
The Prime Minister also constituted an Inter-ministerial committee to critically examine the INDC report, which endorsed the draft. The steering committee constituted under the approved ToRs of the INDC project, endorsed submission of the INDC document to the UNFCCC Secretariat.
According to sources, three key elements of the INDC report were also shared with the cabinet. Firstly, GHG emissions from 405 million tons of CO2 equivalent in 2014-15 were projected to increase to 1,603 million tons CO2 equivalent by the year 2030. Secondly, Pakistan had the potential to reduce emissions by 20% but this was subject to availability of about $40 billion (at current prices); and finally, estimate of adaptation needs ranged from $7 to 14 billion per year over the period 2010-50.
On queries whether the GHG emission estimates in the report had factored in the setting up of several coal-based power generation plants and double digit growth for the next 10 years which would substantially increase the GHG emissions, it was pointed out that these two factors had already been taken into account while preparing estimates in the report.
The source said, in terms of rule 16(1)(j) of the Rules of Business 1973, Ministry of Climate Change sought approval of the cabinet for submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to UNFCCC. After detailed discussion, the federal cabinet approved the report and allowed the Ministry of Climate Change to submit the report to the UNFCCC.