Report at a glance
- Full official title
- Pakistan's third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0)
- Publisher
- Government of Pakistan, submitted to the UNFCCC
- Date submitted
- 24 September 2025
- Covers
- Targets to 2035
- Original source
- Original PDF on the UNFCCC website · UNFCCC NDC registry
- Topics covered
- Emissions, Energy, Forests, Adaptation, Climate finance, Pakistan and South Asia
The answer in 3 sentences
What is Pakistan's NDC 3.0 target?
In its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), submitted to the UN in September 2025, Pakistan says it aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% by 2035 (p. 1). Only 17% of that cut is unconditional, paid for with Pakistan's own resources; the other 33% depends on international climate finance that is mostly grants or low-cost loans (p. 1). Pakistan estimates the total investment needed at US$565.7 billion, while pointing out that it produces only about 1% of global emissions (pp. 1, 4).
Key findings
- The headline target. "Through NDC3.0, Pakistan would like to voluntarily reduce its GHG emissions up to 50% by 2035." (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 1)
- Unconditional part: 17%. This share "will be achieved unconditionally through domestic resources and policy measures". (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 1)
- Conditional part: 33%. The remaining 33% "is conditional on the provision of adequate mostly grant-based or concessional international climate finance, complemented by technology transfer and capacity-building support". (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 1)
- The price tag. "The estimated investment required to achieve these goals is USD 565.7 billion." (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 1)
- Small emitter, high exposure. Pakistan "accounts for only about 1% of total global GHG emissions", at about 2.3 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per person, ranking 178th of 213 countries. (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); pp. 1, 4, 7)
- Emissions today. Pakistan's most recent greenhouse gas inventory, for 2024, estimates total emissions at 585.08 MtCO₂e. (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 10)
- Progress on the last NDC. Under NDC 2.0, Pakistan aimed for 60% renewable energy in the national mix by 2030; by 2025 the share had reached 35.2%. Progress on the 30% electric vehicle target "has shown limited progress, with around 53000 EVs". (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); p. 11)
- Adaptation. Pakistan commits to "building climate resilience for 10 million people across six priority sites in the Indus Basin" through the Recharge Pakistan programme. The NDC also records new extreme maximum temperature records of 46 to 48°C at Chilas and Bunji in Gilgit-Baltistan. (Pakistan NDC 3.0 (2025); pp. 6, 13)
Key numbers
| Figure | What it measures | Year or period | Original page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 50% | Total emissions reduction target (against projected emissions) | By 2035 | 1 |
| 17% | Unconditional share, from domestic resources | By 2035 | 1 |
| 33% | Conditional share, dependent on international finance | By 2035 | 1 |
| US$565.7 billion | Estimated investment needed to reach the NDC 3.0 goals | To 2035 | 1 |
| About 1% | Pakistan's share of global greenhouse gas emissions | Recent | 4 |
| 585.08 MtCO₂e | Pakistan's total greenhouse gas emissions | 2024 inventory | 10 |
| 35.2% | Renewable energy share in the national mix (NDC 2.0 target: 60% by 2030) | 2025 | 11 |
Source: Government of Pakistan (2025), NDC 3.0. Page numbers are the printed page numbers of the submitted PDF.
What it means for people in Pakistan
The NDC is a promise to the world, but most of it depends on money that has not yet arrived. Two thirds of the planned emissions cut (33 of the 50 percentage points) only happens if international finance comes through (p. 1). For people in Pakistan, that means cleaner power, transport and forests are partly in the hands of richer countries that caused most of the warming.
The NDC also puts adaptation at its centre, because Pakistan already lives with the impacts. It records extreme heat of 46 to 48°C in Gilgit-Baltistan (p. 6) and notes that farmers face "extreme heat and erratic rainfall, leading to water scarcity" (p. 7). Farmers, people in the Indus Basin and people living through hotter summers are the ones who will feel whether these plans are funded.
What the report does not say
- The 50% is a cut against projected future emissions, not against today's level. Emissions can still grow while the target is met.
- The NDC is a national pledge. It is not an independent check of whether Pakistan is on track.
- The US$565.7 billion is the government's own estimate of investment needs, not money committed by anyone (p. 1).
- It replaces the 2021 NDC, which aimed to cut projected emissions by 50% by 2030, with 15% unconditional and 35% conditional (p. 1). Older articles may quote those figures.
How to cite this report
Please cite the original document, not this summary.
APA 7
Government of Pakistan. (2025). Pakistan's nationally determined contribution (NDC 3.0). United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-09/Pakistan_NDC3.0_24%20Sep.pdf
Harvard
Government of Pakistan (2025) Pakistan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). Bonn: UNFCCC. Available at: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-09/Pakistan_NDC3.0_24%20Sep.pdf (Accessed: 5 November 2026).