The Karachi Climate Action Plan (K-CAP) represents a transformative initiative aimed at addressing the multifaceted environmental challenges confronting Karachi, a dynamic megacity on the Arabian Sea with a population exceeding 20.38 million.
This comprehensive document underscores the urgent need for immediate and sustained climate action, highlighting Karachi’s significant vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and the imperative for both adaptive and mitigative measures.
K-CAP details the formal launch of the plan, emphasizing key stakeholder engagements and strategic reforms intended to establish a robust foundation for sustainable urban development and climate resilience, all underpinned by a strong political framework.
The plan aligns with the Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C and Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), showcasing Karachi’s commitment to contributing positively to local and global climate goals by diminishing carbon emissions by 2050.
Karachi at a Glance: Contextual Background
Karachi, one of the world’s megacities and the provincial capital of Sindh, exhibits a distinctive administrative and physical geography. Its topography encompasses both flat and undulating plains, with urban expansion towards the north and mountains to the west.
Two rivers, the Malir and Lyari, traverse the city, flowing south into the Arabian Sea. As of 2023, Karachi Division has a population of 20.38 million with a growth rate of 4.1% and a population density of 4,115 people per sq. km. The city comprises seven urban districts: Karachi West, Karachi South, Karachi Central, Malir, Keamari, Korangi, and Karachi East.
Karachi’s urban landscape has undergone significant transformations over the past three decades, with a noticeable decline in bare land indicating a shift towards more developed and built-up areas, particularly in the north and northeast.
Administratively, city operates within a complex three-tiered governance system involving federal, provincial, and local bodies, defined by the Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA) of 2013. At the apex of the local governance is the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), led by an elected mayor, overseeing city-wide infrastructure, urban planning, and strategic policy. The provincial government of Sindh also exerts substantial influence over urban planning and service delivery through entities like the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA), Karachi Development Authority (KDA), Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA), and the Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department (ECC&CDD).
It experiences a subtropical hot desert climate characterized by hot, dry weather with a slight seasonal transition bringing moderate winters followed by a long, hot, and humid summer with monsoon rains from July to September. Annual air temperature anomalies show a rising trend, with the past eight years averaging 0.5°C above the 1980-2022 baseline, and several years, including 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2021, being exceptionally warm.
The Development Process of K-CAP
The development of the Karachi Climate Action Plan commenced in October 2023, under the leadership of the Mayor of Karachi and in response to the C40 CAP Framework. The overall project involved a series of steps, including
- Strategic appraisal and needs assessment,
- Developing a GHG inventory,
- Emissions modeling and target setting,
- Climate change risk assessment (CCRA),
- Defining adaptation goals and targets,
- Action identification and prioritization,
- Developing a monitoring plan,
- Establishing climate action governance, and
- Drafting the CAP document.
Consultation Process
The K-CAP development adhered to certain design principles to ensure an attainable and effective plan, including being ambitious, relevant, actionable, evidence-based, transparent and verifiable, inclusive, fair, and comprehensive and integrated.
The process involved extensive stakeholder engagement, with over 200 consultation meetings held with diverse stakeholders, including;
- Government departments,
- Academic institutions,
- Non-profit organizations, and
- Local community members.
This inclusive approach aimed to gather a comprehensive range of perspectives and insights. The development of the long-term city vision and political commitment was a crucial stage, culminating in a workshop led by the Mayor of Karachi where the commitment to K-CAP was reaffirmed through a mayoral endorsement.
K-CAP Planning Phase
The multi-stage planning process included;
- Inception phase,
- Strategic appraisal and need assessment,
- Baseline assessment (GHG inventory, emissions pathways, CCRA),
- Actions identification and prioritization,
- Governance framework development,
- Monitoring and evaluation framework development, and
- Final CAP development.
Foundation of K-CAP
The K-CAP builds upon a robust foundation of ongoing and planned climate actions at national, provincial, and city levels, including;
- National environmental and transport policies,
- Renewable Energy Policies,
- Nationally Determined Contributions,
- National and Provincial Climate Change Policies, and
- City-level initiatives like the BRT Red Line project.
Understanding the Current State
Karachi’s Baseline Assessment comprises three integral elements:
- A GHG Emission Inventory,
- Pathways to a Net Zero Karachi City, and
- A Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA).
How much GHG Karachi emits?
The GHG Emission Inventory for the year 2022 estimates total emissions from Karachi City to be 43.5 million metric tons (MMT) CO2-equivalent. The inventory, developed using the Global Protocol for Community-Scale (GPC) GHG Emissions Inventories, identifies;
- Stationary energy sources (67.5%) as the dominant contributor,
- Waste (18.7%) and
- Transport (13.8%).
Within the stationary energy sector, manufacturing industries and construction account for the highest share (56.5%). Methane (CH4) emissions are primarily contributed by waste disposal and wastewater discharge.
Aiming for a Net Zero Karachi
Pathways to a Net Zero Karachi City involved developing future GHG emissions scenarios using the C40 Pathways Model, including a Business-as-Usual (BAU) scenario projecting a significant increase in emissions to 131.6 million tons CO2e/year by 2050.
An Existing and Planned (E&P) scenario, considering current policies, projects emissions to reach 95.7 million tons CO2e/year by 2050, highlighting the need for more ambitious actions.
The Ambitious scenario outlines strategies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with emission reductions of 3.7% by 2030, 34.8% by 2040, and 62.2% by 2050.
Karachi’s Vulnerability
The Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) identifies Karachi’s vulnerability to various climate hazards, including;
- Urban heat risk, with
- Increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves and
- Projections of significantly more hot days in the future.
Urban flooding risk is exacerbated by rapid urbanization and encroachment on natural drains, with a significant portion of the population susceptible to flooding.
Drought risk is characterized by prolonged low rainfall, stressing water utilities, particularly in central, eastern, and southern areas.
Coastal risk includes sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and tidal flooding, threatening low-lying areas. Air pollution is a critical concern, with residents potentially losing years of life expectancy due to poor air quality, with sulfur dioxide being identified as a key pollutant.
The CCRA also highlights socio-economic vulnerabilities, including gaps in housing, access to recreation spaces and health services, which are further exacerbated by climate hazards.
Karachi Climate Adaptation Plan
K-CAP outlines 11 key adaptation goals to address the identified climate risks.
For urban flood risk, goals include enhancing flood resilience in high-risk districts through nature-based mitigation features in parks and improved vegetation cover, improving stormwater drainage infrastructure in South, Central, and Korangi districts, and restoring natural riverbeds of the Malir and Lyari rivers by removing encroachments, planting vegetation, and removing solid waste.
For coastal risks, the goals are to improve mangrove forest cover by at least 500 hectares by 2030 to protect against tidal erosion and flooding, and to enhance coastal infrastructure by developing and implementing land use planning and building codes that account for sea-level rise and coastal flooding by 2027.
To address urban heat risk, K-CAP aims to build resilience by increasing urban green spaces in heat-risk areas through planting native trees, providing shade at bus stops, developing roof gardens, and establishing urban forests, provide additional drinking water facilities in public parks and schools in high-heat-risk areas by 2027, increase access to cooling through the adoption of energy-efficient fans, with government procurement limited to NEECA 5-Star models and distribution of DC fans to vulnerable populations, and reduce heat stress through improved building design by retrofitting government educational and health facilities by 2030.
For drought risk, the goal is to build resilience of the vulnerable population by increasing their access to water through rainwater harvesting in public buildings by 2026, construction of storm water runoff storage facilities by 2027, and establishment of at least two constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment by 2030.
Finally, to minimize the health impacts of air pollution, K-CAP aims to establish a comprehensive air quality monitoring network, develop localized health advisories, and fully adapt health systems and urban planning to address air quality challenges by 2030.
The plan integrates these adaptation goals with existing federal and sub-national policies and plans. Priority adaptation actions are detailed with implementing stakeholders, measurable indicators, implementation timelines, and indicative costs.
Image: East Asia Forum
Karachi Climate Mitigation Plan
K-CAP sets ambitious mitigation goals to reduce Karachi’s GHG emissions, targeting an 82% reduction from the 2022 baseline and an 87% reduction from the BAU scenario by 2050.
For the manufacturing industries, which contributed 38.1% of Karachi’s total emissions in 2022, the goal is to enhance energy efficiency with a 20% improvement for large textile manufacturers by 2030 and at least 50% across all priority industrial sectors by 2040, aiming for a net GHG emission reduction of 78 million tons of CO2e per year by 2050 through energy efficiency gains and fuel switching to renewables.
In the energy sector, a key goal is to decarbonize the electricity grid by increasing the share of renewables to 30% by 2030 and up to 90% by 2050, promoting rooftop solar PV systems in residential and commercial buildings, and improving transmission efficiency.
For the transport sector, which accounted for a significant portion of emissions, the goal is to reduce GHG emissions through e-mobility transition (electrification of 2- and 3-wheelers and buses by 2050), mode shift to public transport (operationalizing BRT lines and reviving the Karachi Circular Railway), promoting walking and cycling, and increasing vehicle efficiency and switching to cleaner fuels.
In the buildings sector, the goal is to reduce GHG emissions from residential and commercial building energy use by promoting energy-efficient cooling, heating, and cooking appliances, improving building envelopes through insulation, and increasing the share of rooftop solar PV, aiming for a 9-million-ton CO2e per year reduction compared to BAU by 2050.
For solid and effluent waste management, the goal is to reduce GHG emissions by 2.6 million tons CO2e per year by 2030, 4.8 million tons by 2040, and 9.3 million tons by 2050 through waste reduction, improved collection and processing, landfill methane capture, composting, and wastewater treatment.
K-CAP details sector-wise mitigation strategies and priority actions with measurable indicators, implementation timelines, and estimated costs. The plan also includes a mapping of co-benefits from mitigation actions, highlighting potential improvements in health, air quality, social well-being, and biodiversity.
Who will implement K-CAP?
Effective implementation of K-CAP necessitates a strong climate governance framework integrated throughout Karachi’s governance systems and structures.
The existing institutional state involves a three-tiered government system, with climate functions predominantly managed at the provincial level by the ECC&CDD.
The KMC’s current role in climate action governance is limited, highlighting a need for mainstreaming climate action within its structure. Key challenges to implementation include governance fragmentation, lack of a clear mandate for KMC in climate action, conflicting political interests, and insufficient stakeholder engagement.
To address these challenges, K-CAP proposes a two-phase approach to climate governance reforms.
Phase I, an immediate action alongside the K-CAP launch, involves establishing an institutional framework within the existing SLGA 2013 framework, including the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC) and the Climate Change Board (CCB). The DoECC will serve as the custodian of K-CAP, overseeing planning, implementation, GHG inventory updates, and budget allocation. It will have two wings: Urban Planning and Regulatory, and Environment and Climate Change. A localized MER Cell will be established under DoECC. The CCB, chaired by the Mayor or Municipal Commissioner, will provide strategic direction and ensure cohesive implementation of K-CAP by bringing together diverse stakeholders.
Phase II will focus on legislative amendments to the SLGA 2013 to explicitly include climate change as a mandated responsibility of local government bodies like KMC. A proposal for climate budgeting within K-CAP suggests a dedicated budget head for climate action within the KMC budget, along with leveraging grants, public-private partnerships, and international climate funds.
Who will monitor and evaluate the K-CAP progress?
The K-CAP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) system aims to establish a transparent and adaptive framework to track progress towards climate goals, enhance accountability, and facilitate continuous improvement.
The MER Department, an integral part of DoECC, will be responsible for developing baseline standards, coordinating data collection, and producing regular reports on climate action progress. Its organizational structure includes a Deputy Director, Assistant Head, Climate & Environmental Analyst, GIS Specialist, Reporting and Communication Officers, Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Senior MER Officers (for each town), MER Officers (for each Union Council), and Technical Advisors. The department will monitor KPIs for sectoral themes, with the CCB reassessing and updating the CCRA every two years based on the updated GHG inventory.
A dedicated information platform will be established to centralize and streamline data management, providing real-time KPI tracking and public access through the KMC website. The MER department will gather initial data on ongoing projects through collaboration with responsible departments. The C40 MER Indicator Matrix will provide intervention logic for adaptation and mitigation actions. The progress of KCAP targets will be evaluated biannually against KPIs, and any challenges will be communicated to DoECC.
The MER Department will prepare biannual internal and external reports, covering KPIs monitoring, actions monitoring, targets monitoring, and an analysis of challenges and opportunities. The external report will be publicly available on the KMC website with an online feedback mechanism. The MER Department will serve as a crucial link between DoECC, CCB, and the public, driving Karachi towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
What Next?
The launch of K-CAP marks the beginning of a long-term process requiring sustained efforts. Establishment of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC) and the Climate Change Board (CCB) under the SLGA 2013 will consolidate climate governance within KMC. Suggested amendments to the SLGA 2013 aim to enhance KMC’s authority by reinstating the climate mandate.
Establishing monitoring cells at the Union Council level will facilitate decentralized environmental oversight and real-time data collection. Bi-annual stakeholder meetings based on the MER Report will review progress, address challenges, and strategize future actions.
Information material will be developed in accessible formats and languages for the general public and specific priority audiences, drawing inspiration from successful campaigns. The KMC will prepare for queries and concerns by establishing dedicated channels and equipping relevant teams with necessary information. Continued engagement post-launch with government departments, non-governmental actors, community groups, and the private sector will be pivotal for effective implementation and long-term success.
Conclusion
The Karachi Climate Action Plan represents a monumental step towards securing a sustainable, climate-resilient future for the city, aligning with global best practices and the Paris Agreement. The establishment of DoECC and CCB provides the essential institutional foundation for effective implementation.
K-CAP’s vision extends beyond immediate climate action, aiming for a future where Karachi thrives sustainably, with improved infrastructure, better air quality, and a resilient population, prioritizing the well-being of all communities, particularly vulnerable groups. Underpinned by strong political will, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and continuous monitoring, this plan paves the way for future generations to live in a healthier, more equitable city, setting a powerful example for other cities in Pakistan.