Pakistan Carbon Footprint

Overview: Pakistan's emissions profile

Pakistan is a Asia nation with a population of approximately 231 million. Its total annual CO₂ output of 213 million tonnes represents 0.6% of global emissions. On a per-capita basis, each person in Pakistan is responsible for 0.92 tonnes of CO₂ per year — compared to the world average of 4.54 tonnes and the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway target of 2.3 tonnes.

Renewable energy in Pakistan

Pakistan currently generates 32% of electricity from renewables — below the global average of around 30%. Expanding renewable capacity is one of the highest-leverage actions available for reducing national emissions.

Net zero target and climate commitments

Pakistan has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This aligns with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

The Paris Agreement (2015) requires countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — national plans for emissions reduction. Progress against these targets is tracked by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Carbon intensity of the economy

Pakistan's economy generates 0.34 kg of CO₂ per dollar of GDP — a measure of how carbon-efficient its economic output is. This is broadly average for an upper-middle or high-income economy.

How does Pakistan compare?

With 0.92 tonnes CO₂ per person, Pakistan is 79.7% below the world average of 4.54 tonnes. To meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C pathway, per-capita emissions globally need to fall to around 2.3 tonnes by 2030 — meaning Pakistan is already at or near the Paris pathway target.

Explore the interactive world emissions map to compare Pakistan with other countries, or use our free carbon calculator to measure your own footprint.