Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has signed the Statement of Undertaking (SoU) with the Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG), committing to the permanent reduction of N2O emissions within the country’s nitric acid sector.
At the signing ceremony in Islamabad, 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 Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan’s dedication to long-term policies for reducing N2O emissions from nitric acid production.
Following this commitment by the Ministry, Fatima Fertilizers‘ Multan Plant became eligible for financial support from the NACAG Secretariat. This support will enable the procurement installation of abatement technology and monitoring equipment in its production facilities. Pakistan’s nitric acid sector has an estimated emissions reduction potential of approximately 1.86 million tons of CO₂ equivalent per year—equivalent to nearly 770,496 round-trip flights between Islamabad and Berlin.
“This commitment underscores the power of international collaboration in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a more sustainable future,” stated Ms. Janine Rohwer underscoring the importance of financial support NACAG providers.
Ms. Aisha Moriani, Secretary of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the project’s importance as a model of public-private collaboration for GHG emissions mitigation. She emphasized that it demonstrates the government’s intention to support private companies in contributing to national climate goals.
Mr. Wolfgang Hesse, Coordinator for Energy, Climate Change, and Just Transition at GIZ-Pakistan, the global implementing agency for NACAG, reiterated their commitment to providing the technical expertise and capacity-building support essential to NACAG’s success. He noted that the project is expected to exceed Pakistan’s N2O emission reduction target by over 200%, as set in Nationally Determined Contributions 2.0.
Nitric acid is a critical component in nitrogen fertilizer production, directly impacting food security. In Pakistan’s context, the NACAG initiative showcases how climate action can complement food security while also delivering environmental and economic benefits, from cleaner air and improved public health to the promotion of green technologies and the creation of jobs 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’s Multan Plant was the first industrial facility to install the Clean Development Mechanism in 2007, followed by their Sadiqabad Plant in 2011. Fatima Fertilizer remains committed to reducing N2O emissions through NACAG, aligning directly with Pakistan’s objectives under the Paris Agreement.
By becoming the 11th country to sign the SoU – joining Argentina, Colombia, Georgia, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe – Pakistan joins a global effort to reduce over four million tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually in the nitric acid sector
