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Sectoral assessment of greenhouse gas emissions in Pakistan

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Abstract

In this study, an attempt has been made to develop inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for Pakistan at the national and sectoral level. The emission profile includes carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). In 2012, GHG emissions from different sectors of economy are estimated at 367 Tg CO2eq. Out of this, CO2 emissions were 179 Tg; CH4 emissions were 107 Tg CO2eq; and N2O emissions were 81 Tg CO2eq. Energy and agriculture sectors contribute approximately 89% of national GHG emissions. Industrial processes, waste, and land use change and forestry (LUCF) sectors contribute the remaining 11% GHG emissions. A comparison with the 1994 GHG emission inventory of Pakistan shows that GHG emissions in Pakistan from 1994 to 2012 have increased at an annual growth rate of 4.1% and yet anticipated to increase further for meeting the national developmental goals; however, the per capita emissions in Pakistan will remain low when compared with the global average.

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Notes

  1. Vegetable ghee is used for cooking and major source of edible oil in Pakistan, India, and other South Asian countries. It has trans-fat level of about 50%.

  2. Improving fuel (diesel/gasoline) quality and sticker vehicle emission norms (such as EURO standards).

  3. Transition to lower-carbon fossil fuels, biofuels, CNG, and hybrid/electric vehicles; shifting away from the use of individual cars to mass transport modes; reducing the need for travel through land-use planning; as well as improving fuel and vehicle efficiency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Kaleem Anwar Mir & Shahbaz Mehmood

  2. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

    Pallav Purohit

Authors
  1. Kaleem Anwar Mir
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  2. Pallav Purohit
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  3. Shahbaz Mehmood
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Correspondence to Kaleem Anwar Mir.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Mir, K.A., Purohit, P. & Mehmood, S. Sectoral assessment of greenhouse gas emissions in Pakistan. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 27345–27355 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0354-y

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