Pakistan

 

Pakistan relied on fossil fuels for 59% of its electricity in 2023. However, its emissions per capita remain below the global average.

Hydro dominates Pakistan’s low-carbon electricity at 24% while its share of wind and solar (2.7%) is far below the global average (13%) and its neighbours India (10%) and Afghanistan (13%). 

As Pakistan’s electricity demand more than doubled in the last two decades, so have its power sector emissions. This rising electricity demand was predominantly met by fossil fuels, with coal seeing a huge jump from less than 1% in 2016 to almost 18% in 2023. However, high oil-and-gas-powered plant running costs have led to the government imposing energy conservation measures, artificially suppressing demand, which fell 7.5% year-on-year. Increasing wind and solar would help Pakistan to meet demand more cost-effectively and resolve its ongoing energy crisis. 

While Pakistan has committed to increasing its renewable electricity share to 60% by 2030, it also has plans to quadruple its coal-fired capacity. The IEA’s Net Zero Emissions scenario sets out a global target of 60% renewable electricity by 2030.

 

Last updated: May 2024