Waste sector inclusion in the revised NDC of Pakistan

11 April 2022

A briefing note on including the waste sector in Pakistan’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution has recently been published. Melanie Hobson was a co-author of the brief, together with local consultant Nasir Javed. The work was funded by the Asian Development Bank with assistance also provided by Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change (MOCC).

GHG emissions from Pakistan's waste sector are expected to increase substantially in the coming years given rapid population growth and urbanisation. Yet, no related climate mitigation actions have so far been suggested in the country’s NDC. More accurate emissions estimates and prompt mitigation actions for the sector are urgently needed. The brief gives an overview of waste management in Pakistan, the data currently available for the compilation of emissions estimates, and proposed ways forward.

Key findings from the briefing:

  • Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the waste sector for Pakistan are expected to increase with the rapid population growth and urbanization. Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) should provide particular focus on the waste sector by studying its quantity, composition, and disposal methods.
  • The waste sector has limited data in Pakistan and challenges in improving data management on waste generation and estimating GHG emissions are considerable.
  • Lessons learned and best practices from the private sector and related donor-funded initiatives highlight sound solid waste management and GHG mitigation strategies.
  • A streamlined institutional arrangement for the sector is required to bring information together into a sustainable and functional system with defined responsibilities and coordinated participation with stakeholders.

You can read more on our policy and inventory work.

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