Bureau Report
Karachi: On July 17th, 2025, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program, in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change & Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) and the Planning and Development Department (P&D Sindh), hosted the Carbon Market Training Workshop for Public and Private Sector Stakeholders in Karachi, Pakistan. The workshop brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, financial institutions, and think tanks to delve into the role of carbon markets in driving climate finance and supporting Pakistan’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The workshop began with Mr. Zubair Ahmed Channa, Secretary of the Environment, Climate Change & Coastal Development Department, delivering the welcome remarks. He emphasized the importance of carbon markets in achieving Pakistan’s climate goals, stating, “Pakistan is at a critical juncture in its climate action journey, and carbon markets will play a pivotal role in achieving our net-zero ambitions. This workshop serves as an important step in fostering collaboration between public and private stakeholders to mobilize climate finance for sustainable development.” Following his remarks, Ms. Nadia Rehman, Member (Climate Change) at the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives (MoPDSI), also addressed the audience, providing further insights into the country’s commitment to climate action.
The SPAR6C Carbon Market Training Workshop brought together international experts to discuss critical aspects of carbon markets and their role in Pakistan’s climate action efforts. Denis Machnik, Senior Advisor on Carbon Markets at UNEP-CCC, introduced the SPAR6C program and explained how Pakistan can leverage Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to meet its climate goals through carbon market mechanisms. Jonas Hagen, Principal Expert at GFA International, followed by providing an overview of the key sectors with carbon market opportunities, focusing on transport, cement, and waste management. Ahsan Kamran, Senior Carbon Markets Expert Consultant with SPAR6C, guided participants through the technicalities of the carbon market project lifecycle, focusing on baseline setting, validation, issuance, and the transfer of ITMOs. Lastly, Urwah Khan, Advisor (Climate & Energy) at UNEP-CCC, presented Pakistan’s readiness for project transactions, including investment opportunities and pathways for private sector engagement in carbon finance.
Additionally, Nadia Shafiq, Senior Chief of the Environment & Climate Change Sector at Planning & Development Punjab, and Mr. Babar Sahib Din, CEO of Lahore Waste Management Company, provided valuable insights into Punjab’s green investment landscape. They discussed how Pakistan’s waste management industry can leverage carbon finance to develop scalable and sustainable mitigation projects. Their presentations emphasized the role of the private sector and government partnerships in advancing these initiatives within the context of low-carbon transformation.
Following the expert presentations, the workshop hosted a panel discussion with representatives from leading investment banks and financial institutions. The discussion focused on financing strategies and the integration of carbon finance into investment structures. The session also explored the role of commercial banks, the State Bank of Pakistan, investment banking, and development finance institutions in mobilizing capital to support the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Looking ahead, SPAR6C continues to engage stakeholders across Pakistan to build technical capacity for navigating carbon markets and supporting the scaling of low-carbon infrastructure and nature-based solutions in the country.
The Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program is a five-year initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), through the International Climate Initiative (IKI). The program is led globally by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), with implementation in Pakistan led by UNEP-CCC, and supported by GFA Consulting Group. SPAR6C aims to enhance the capacity of stakeholders in Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zambia to effectively engage in carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
