Lahore, Pakistan, February 21st, 2025 – To support the development of a pipeline of feasible projects in Pakistan for international carbon markets, the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program, led by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), has announced its intention to provide technical assistance to the Lakhodair Landfill in Punjab province of Pakistan. The announcement was made as part of a visit from representatives of SPAR6C’s donor agency, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).    

Lahore’s Lakhoder Landfill was chosen as it receives and disposes of over 5,500 tons of waste daily, for a total of 12 million tons since its opening in 2016.  An estimated 55% to 60% of the waste is biodegradable, which releases harmful greenhouse gases, primarily methane as it decomposes. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), having more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere.  

For emissions reduction, SPAR6C program will support the application of a methane collection system that can supply the gas to the city of Lahore through existing natural gas infrastructure, displacing the usage of natural gas and reducing CO2-emissions from CNG use. 

“An important part of supporting countries to set up a carbon market framework is involving the private sector and piloting projects. The Lakhodair Landfill support from SPAR6C will serve as a blueprint for other projects in Pakistan’s waste sector and for the implementation of further mitigation projects,” said Malin Ahlberg, a senior carbon expert from BMWK. 

 “Waste segregation and reuse in the second phase of Suthra (clean) Punjab project present a massive opportunity in this more than Rs 200 bn market, and this site can be a great opportunity for collaboration under Article 6 while benefiting our local economy and community” said  Babar Sahibdin, CEO, LWMC. 

 A core objective of the SPAR6C program is to develop high quality, high integrity Article 6 pilot projects. In Pakistan, this will include preparing up to three ambitious GHG emission reduction projects or programs that can benefit from carbon finance by 2027. 

 SPAR6C is implemented in four countries including Pakistan. In Pakistan the work is delivered by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center (UNEP-CCC) with the support of GFA Consulting Group and several local experts. Through this assistance, SPAR6C has already worked with Government of Pakistan and private sector actors to build a pipeline of 10 Mitigation Activity Idea Notes (MAINS) and will continue to grow the pipeline in 2025. The project in Lahore has been prioritised as the first of three projects which will receive preparation support from SPAR6C, with the goal of making it viable for international cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.  

“GGGI is looking forward to seeing this project developed into one of Pakistan’s first Article 6 transactions. We will continue to support through SPAR6C and through the recently launched Carbon Transaction Facility,” shared Marshall Brown, Global Program Manager.