By Pairman Bazai
The current global climate change is characterized by significant rise in temperatures over the last nine years, with average global temperatures rising by about 2°F (1.11° C) above pre-industrial levels in 2022.
According to NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, current climate change’s shifting trends are intensifying forest fires, hurricanes, melting glaciers and ice sheets, rising sea levels, and wreaking havoc to ecosystems and biodiversity. Many regions of the world are experiencing changes in the precipitation patterns, including more intense and frequent droughts in some areas and increased flooding in the others. These changes are affecting both natural habitats and human societies, leading to food and water insecurity, displacement of people, and damage to infrastructure and economies. Likewise, Pakistan as a country is severely faced with the climate change calamities, thus affecting its energy crisis at large.
The energy sector is a major contributor yet more vulnerable to climate change, as it is responsible for the majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the electricity and heat sectors are responsible for the largest share of CO2 emissions, followed by agriculture, industry, transportation, and other energy sectors. In 2021, the largest increase in CO2 emissions occurred in electricity and heat production, increasing by 900 Mt and accounting for 46% of the global increase, due to increased use of fossil fuels to meet growing electricity demand, resulting in the highest ever level of 14.6 Gt, a 500 Mt increase from 2019. The aim of this piece is to highlight the significance of nuclear energy and technology in mitigating the issues of global warming as well as its significance as a cheaper, reliable and clean source of energy for Pakistan.
Currently, approximately 60% of the global electricity produced is supplied through fossil fuel energy. The major components (electricity, transport, and heat) of total energy production that rely on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) account for 90.3%. Electricity generated by coal and gas accounts for 36.7% and 23.5% of total electricity production, respectively, while nuclear energy accounts for 10.4%. In particular, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas for electricity generation and transportation releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other heat-trapping gasses into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. Thus, climate change is widely considered as one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
According to the Global Carbon Project, Pakistan, among all the major CO2 emitters, was ranked 33rd in the world in terms of CO2 emissions in 2020, with estimated emissions of about 0.6% of the global total, while it ranks 5th among the top 10 countries that are most vulnerable to climate change in the world. The countries that contribute the most to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are: China, the largest emitter of CO2, responsible for over 25% of global emissions; the second-largest emitter is the United States, responsible for over 15% of global emissions, India, the third-largest emitter, responsible for over 7% of global emissions; followed by Russia and Japan as the third and fourth largest emitters, responsible for over 4% and 3% of global emissions, respectively.
Like in many other developing countries, Pakistan’s emissions are primarily driven by energy production and use, including the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas for electricity generation and heat. To address its CO2 emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change, Pakistan will need a transition to cleaner energy sources, improve energy efficiency, and implement other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The best alternative in the transition to clean energy would be the nuclear energy in Pakistan.
Why should Pakistan move to nuclear energy production? It is because nuclear energy produces electricity at cheaper rates; in 2022, the average production of electricity in Giga Watt hour (GWh) is Rs. 18522.3, at an average rate of Rs. 1.0628 per kWh through nuclear energy. The statistics show a great difference in the input rates of electricity production through nuclear energy and fossil fuels that include coal, residual fuel oil (RFO), and regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG). In the year 2022, the average cost of one unit of electricity production was around Rs. 15.6kWh (coal), Rs. 29kWh (RFO), and Rs. 21kWh (RLNG). Collectively, Pakistan saved Rs.334294.5 against coal, Rs. 641699.4 RFO, and Rs. 461479.3 RLNG.
Additionally, nuclear energy has several advantages as a clean energy source, including its high energy density, low greenhouse gas emissions, and long operational lifetimes. It can also play an important role in meeting the energy demands of a growing population while reducing the reliance on fossil fuels. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on natural gas, the demand for nuclear power generation to provide alternative sources of power will increase in light of increasing concerns regarding greenhouse gasses.
However, Pakistan is fortunately, despite being a developing country, running its 6 Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs)successfully. The Pakistan Nuclear Program has a high energy density, low greenhouse gas emissions, and high operational efficiency. Pakistan has a comprehensive safety and security framework in place for its nuclear energy program and has made significant investments in improving the safety and security of its NPPs.
The country remains engaged in international cooperation with countries such as China, France, and Russia to expand its nuclear energy program and gain access to advanced nuclear technology and expertise in improving nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Pakistan’s nuclear energy program has been a significant part of its energy mix for several decades and has been expanding in recent years keeping in view the devastating effects of climate change. According to the statistics, the sector has a huge room for growth and development. Furthermore, nuclear energy is the most reliable and credible source to produce clean energy and mitigate the climate change concerns at large for the country which has observed numerous calamities in the recent years. So, Pakistan must rely on nuclear energy to meet its energy demand and at the same time cope with climate change.
The writer is working as a Research Officer at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN), BUITEMS, Quetta
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of World Geostrategic Insights).