Evaluating Practitioner Perceptions on the Environmental Impacts of Transport Sector Emissions in Pakistan and the Integration of Climate Finance in supporting proposed solutions

Abstract

This research explores the importance of climate finance in addressing the challenges posed by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Pakistan’s transport sector, a significant contributor to the country’s air pollution and public health crises. Despite the country’s minimal contributions to global carbon emissions, Pakistan remains one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change. This qualitative study, grounded in the theory of sustainability, explores how green transport infrastructure (such as public transportation systems and electric vehicles) can not only help in mitigating environmental damage but also yield economic, social, and health benefits. This study focuses on metropolitan cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, which are most affected by road transport emissions. This research also aims to demonstrate how climate finance can catalyze the transformation of Pakistan’s transportation sector. However, this transition to sustainable transport is subjected to financial constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and governance challenges. Furthermore, climate finance, particularly through mechanisms like blended finance and public-private partnerships (PPPs), offers a more practical solution to bridging these gaps. Not only these solutions yield positive results but they also have the capacity of changing the trajectory of the climate finance landscape in the country. Through a detailed analysis of climate finance mechanisms, the research highlights how these resources can bridge the gap between high infrastructure costs and the limited financial capacity of developing nations. This study also sheds light on the institutional, technical, and cultural barriers to effective climate finance mobilization in Pakistan. It suggests policy frameworks to overcome these obstacles. The findings of the study also focus on the importance of transparent governance, institutional capacity-building, and public engagement in facilitating the country’s transition to a low-carbon, resilient transport system. Seven distinctive themes emerged from the analysis, offering deeper insights into the potential of climate finance to promote sustainable urban transport, reduced emissions, and improved public health outcomes in Pakistan’s most affected urban centers. The study aligns with Pakistan’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, which prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate resilience through sustainable development initiatives.