Saquib Ali is an apprentice at Hi-Tech Electronics, one of a string of shops in Karachi’s Defence commercial area that specialise in repairing household appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators. “Most of my work comprises filling [appliances with] gas,” said Ali.
The “gas” he referred to is usually some type of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), used as a refrigerant in fridges, deep freezers and ACs. As Pakistan’s summer months approach, his days have already become busy.
Unlike their problematic predecessors chlorofluorocarbons, HFCs do not deplete the Earth’s protective ozone layer. But they are powerful greenhouse gases that warm the Earth between 140 and 11,700 times more than carbon dioxide. Refrigeration and air conditioning account for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions – three times more than aviation and shipping combined.
In response, developed countries have pledged to begin phasing out HFCs in 2019. Developing countries will follow suit between 2024 and 2028. Recently, Pakistan revealed it is taking the first step towards this. In October 2021, in its updated Nationally Determined Contribution, it announced it will adopt a Pakistan Cooling Action Plan (PCAP) by 2026. This will “identify the key cooling needs and prioritize actions for addressing current and future cooling demands with the minimum possible impact on the environment”.
There is scant official information on the plan. But the news comes at a crucial moment in Pakistan’s climate policy. Extreme...
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