PAKISTAN, in accordance with the Paris Agreement requirements, has submitted its Nationally Determined Contri-butions (NDCs) for the year 2021. In doing so, it has outlined its climate action plans. However, a close exami-nation of Pakistan’s NDCs reveals a lack of clarity in its approach.

While the Paris Agreement allows flexibility in determining contributions based on national circumstances, Pakistan’s use of the term ‘contribution’ appears to be misleading, and that is why it needs to be subjected to some scrutiny.

The term ‘contribution’ is employed in the NDCs in three distinct ways that deviate from the intended context of the Paris Agreement.

The term introduces future commit-ments, projecting substantial reductions in emissions by 2030, with a focus on both domestic and international resources. Yet, these commitments lack detailed strategies for implementation.

The word ‘contribution’ is used to refer to outputs without specifying the corresponding actions, conveying a sense of action but lacking tangible results. This ambiguity masks the absence of substantial measures.

The term is employed misleadingly in various instances, mentioning enhancements without providing a clear roadmap, or making claims based on conditional contributions that lack clear pathways.

A closer examination of specific headings in the document reveals further issues. Some headings lack relevance or clarity, misleading readers about the content.

For instance, the crosshead ‘Key highlights of NDC contributions’ uses ‘contributions’ redundantly, indicating outputs instead of outlining plans.

Similarly, a vague crosshead like ‘Highlights of Pakistan’s NDC contributions’ fails to provide substantive information, relying on overused attributes.

The significance of NDCs lies in their role as commitments underpinning the global climate agenda. They reflect each country’s emission reduction goals, actions, and timelines. Pakistan’s NDCs, however, clearly fall short of their purpose.

The term ‘contribution’, frequently utilised, only highlights one concrete action among vague references.

While it may seem clear at first, deeper analysis reveals ambiguity. Elements like timeframes, compliance, and methods lack clarity, undermining the substance of the actions.

This lack of clarity in Pakistan’s NDCs has serious implications for climate efforts at both national and global levels.

Misleading terminology can hinder genuine action, limiting progress in addressing climate change. Inaccurate NDC submissions not only hinder Pakistan’s own efforts, but also affect collective global ambitions to combat climate change.

To strengthen its commitment and impact, Pakistan must enhance the precision and transparency of its NDCs. They need to be aligned more closely with the Paris Agreement’s intent.

Lala Rukh
Cork, Ireland

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2023