Pakistan toward Achieving Net-Zero Emissions: Policy and Roadmap

Pakistan generated 12.17 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste in 2020, reaching 22.04 Mt in 2050. Plastic production emits about 0.8 billion tons (Bt) of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in Pakistan. An increase in production will lead this amount to 1.46 Bt in 2050. The eco-indicator 95, BEES, and ReCiPe methods investigated the life cycle of petroleum-based and corn-based plastics. Through technology, policies, and strategies implementations, Pakistan can control white pollution and environmental hazards until 2043-2050 with the recycling rate (i.e., 28%). The defined policy roadmap for net-zero emissions will limit the GHGs to 1.66 Bt in 2050. These emissions can be reduced through life cycle assessment, policy decisions, implementation strategies, and technology utilization. Rapid and widespread changes in policy and investment across many sectors of society, participation, and commitment by government, industry, and individuals are needed. The baseline technologies require renewable energy for production and carbon capture, storage, and utilization technology to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. Policy roadmaps and literature studies concluded that net-zero emissions are possible with available technologies until 2043. Identified the critical technological and socio-economic goals that must be achieved for net-zero carbon emissions through near-term critical actions defined from 2020 to 2050.