Climate Change Ministry Signs Pact to Mitigate Nitric Acid Emissions
Islamabad: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has signed the important Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG) Statement of Undertaking (SoU), pledging to lower nitrous oxide emissions in the nation’s nitric acid sector.
During the signing event in Islamabad, which was attended by Ms. Janine Rohwer, First Secretary at the German Embassy, and Mr. Wolfgang Hesse, Coordinator for Energy, Climate Change, and Just Transition at GIZ Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s Climate Change Coordinator, Romina Khurshid Alam, affirmed the current government’s plan to implement policies aimed at reducing nitrous oxide emissions from nitric acid production in the long run.U.S. and Teachers’ Resource Center Unveil First Climate Change Curriculum
As a result of this decision by the Ministry, the Fatima Fertilizers plant in Multan has qualified for financial assistance from the NACAG Secretariat to install catalysts designed to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and implement measuring technologies within its production facilities.
At the SoU signing ceremony, Romina Khurshid Alam stated that with this agreement involving the private sector, Pakistan has become the 11th nation to officially engage in this collaborative effort, joining Argentina, Colombia, Georgia, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe in the mission to decrease over four million tons of CO2 equivalent emissions each year in the nitric acid industry.
“Today represents a significant advancement in Pakistan’s journey to address climate change and promote sustainable development. The NACAG initiative is integral to our climate action framework, and we appreciate the support from the German government and GIZ,” remarked Romina Khurshid Alam. The potential for reducing nitrous oxide emissions in Pakistan’s fertilizer sector is estimated to be around 1.86 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
Nitrous oxide is an odorless, colorless, and non-flammable gas with a global warming potential nearly 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over a century.
The Prime Minister’s coordinator reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by aligning national efforts with international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement.
In April 2020, Pakistan expressed its dedication to mitigating N2O from nitric acid production by signing the N2O Mitigation Declaration. She noted that nitric acid manufacturers in Pakistan became eligible for over 7 million euros in grants for advanced reduction technology and monitoring equipment.
Ms. Aisha Moriani, Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, emphasized the significance of the nitrous oxide emissions initiative, stating that the NACAG effort will be vital for Pakistan in meeting its carbon reduction targets by addressing nitrous oxide emissions from the nitric acid sector.
Additionally, she mentioned that this initiative will provide various environmental and economic advantages, including cleaner air, improved public health, the promotion of green technologies, and job creation in the green economy.
Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Ahmed Atteeq Anwar, stated that the signing of the SoU with the private sector to tackle GHG emissions related to global warming reflects the government’s commitment to support private enterprises in contributing to the nation’s environmental sustainability and climate resilience objectives.
“We are especially encouraged by the active involvement of the private sector in our climate mitigation initiatives, as the current government recognizes that meaningful progress in fighting climate change relies on the engagement of businesses and industries,” he noted.
“The signing of this commitment underscores the strength of international cooperation in addressing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a greener, more sustainable future,” said Ms. Janine Rohwer, highlighting the German Development Corporation’s provision of over 7 million euros in grant funding through the NACAG initiative.
Mr. Wolfgang Hesse, Coordinator for Energy, Climate Change, and Just Transition at GIZ, which serves as the global implementing agency for NACAG, reiterated their dedication to providing essential technical expertise and capacity-building support to ensure the success of NACAG.
He also pointed out that this project is expected to exceed 200% of Pakistan’s N2O emission reduction target set in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Nitric acid is a key component in nitrogen fertilizer production, thus playing a crucial role in food security.
Particularly in Pakistan, the NACAG initiative illustrates how to harness potential at the intersection of climate change and food security.
This initiative will also yield additional environmental and economic benefits, such as cleaner air, enhanced public health, the advancement of green technologies, and job opportunities in the green sector.
The Ministry of Climate Change praised Fatima Fertilizer as a leader in climate action. Mr. Inamullah Naveed Khan, Director of Operations, added that Fatima Fertilizer (Multan Plant) was the first industrial facility to implement the Clean Development Mechanism in 2007 and later at their Sadiqabad Plant in 2011.
Fatima Fertilizer is independently maintaining and operating these N2O reduction units. N2O is a greenhouse gas that is 265 times more detrimental to the climate than CO2.
Fatima Fertilizer is dedicated to continuing its efforts in reducing N2O emissions through NACAG and actively contributing to the country’s objectives under the Paris Agreement.
