Core area “Climate and energy, just transition” Generating power from sustainable sources, preventing disasters, adapting to climate change

    According to the Global Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is one of the ten countries most severely affected by climate change. In the absence of appropriate climate change adaptation measures, an extra up to 21 million Pakistanis might slide into poverty by 2050, according to World Bank figures. Germany is assisting Pakistan in moving forward on its energy transition and in establishing social protection systems in order to cushion the impacts of climate change.

    With the support of GIZ, solar systems are installed in Sindh, Pakistan.

    With the support of GIZ, solar systems are installed in Sindh, Pakistan.

    In 2021, Germany and Pakistan signed an agreement for a Climate and Energy Partnership. This Partnership involves a close political dialogue, efforts to strengthen bilateral development cooperation, and engagement with the private sector, scientific institutions and civil society organisations.

    Germany is assisting Pakistan in developing and implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (this support is being provided as part of the NDC Partnership), expanding the use of renewable energy, analysing climate risks, developing strategies for adaptation to climate change, and accessing international climate finance, for instance through the Green Climate Fund.

    Another focus of Pakistan-German cooperation under the Climate and Energy Partnership is reforestation. For example, Germany supports Pakistan's Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, which envisages the planting of ten billion trees by the end of 2023.

    Technical and financial solutions

    In response to the 2022 flood disaster, the two countries agreed, among other things, to launch a water management programme. In order to prevent floods, rainwater retention basins are to be built. This water will be available for irrigation and as drinking water during dry periods.

    In order to give people financial protection when a disaster hits, the BMZ is supporting – in addition to technical measures – the development of an adaptive social protection system. Pakistan is one of the Pathfinder Countries for the Global Shield against Climate Risks (see also core area “Health, social protection and population policy”).


    Renewable energy

    Pakistan is currently faced with energy shortages, and energy demand will continue to grow in the coming years. It is vital to provide reliable, universal access to sustainably generated energy for the country's growing economy and population.

    Pakistan has considerable potential for generating power from renewable sources. Germany is therefore supporting the use of solar, wind and hydropower for electricity generation, as well as the expansion of transmission lines, in order to make it possible to feed this energy into the grid and distribute it.

    For example, BMZ funding for five small hydropower stations and solar installations in remote communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province enables 13,000 households to be provided with power from renewable sources. They have been able to reduce their spending on energy by nearly 50 per cent. These measures avoid the emission of 1,600 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.

    As at: 18/07/2023