The second Asia Energy Transition Summit, jointly organised by the LUMS Energy Institute (LEI), the Alliance for Climate Justice and Clean Energy (ACJCE) and the Pakistan Renewable Energy Coalition (PREC), concluded at LUMS on December 7. The two-day event brought together federal ministers, parliamentarians, civil servants, climate and energy experts and practitioners, academics and activists from across South Asia and Southeast Asia. The summit reaffirmed Asia’s growing political, financial and technological role in shaping regional and global trends towards a clean and just energy transition. It also emphasised the need for stronger regional cooperation and collaboration within Asia to expedite and smoothen this transition.

The Summit featured plenary sessions, keynote addresses and thematic discussions focused on advancing a just, people-centred, and affordable energy transition across Asia. Its key themes included new and sustainable pathways for financing energy transition and climatic adaptation and mitigation, tariff and non-tariff barriers to renewable-energy trade, distributed and utility-scale renewable deployment, flexible and climate-resilient grids, governance reforms and the risks posed by inequitable or technologically misdirected ‘false solutions’.

Delivering his keynote address during the summit, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, highlighted the central role of energy transition in Pakistan’s future development. “Clean, reliable and affordable energy is essential for our economic revival,” he said. “By bringing together regional experts, Asia Energy Transition Summit has also helped Pakistan determine its role and contribution in shaping an Asia-wide fair, future-oriented energy agenda.”

Speaking at the closing plenary, Dr. Musadik Malik, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, highlighted the financing challenges that developing economies face, particularly in the energy and climate sectors. “The energy transition must ease the already heavy financial burdens on the developing states, not create new ones,” he noted. He also emphasised that as storage costs fall, batteries can address renewable variability and make energy transition smooth.

Nafeesa Shah, Co-Convener, Parliamentary Forum on Energy & Economy, said, “Parliamentarians and policymakers are the missing link in the energy transition and climate diplomacy discourse. It is essential that we promote global and Asia level collaborations for an effective and just energy transition.”

Addressing a townhall session on Pakistan’s power sector, Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari, Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), emphasised the urgent need to modernise the national grid to ensure a smooth and speedy energy transition. “Pakistan must build a flexible and a renewables-driven power system,” he said. “The insights shared during the Asia Energy Transition Summit will certainly guide power sector reforms within Pakistan and help it expand its solar and wind resources for power generation while also ensuring their equitable and affordable access to the citizens.”

Reflecting on the summit’s outcomes, Dr. Fiaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Chairman National Grid Company of Pakistan and Senior Advisor at LEI, highlighted Asia’s shared responsibility for energy transition and climate finance. “The summit brought together individuals and institutions who recognise sustainability, affordability and technical credibility as foundations for Asia’s energy future,” he stated. “I hope the discussions among them will generate partnerships that help countries in the region pursue technologically practical, environmentally appropriate, financially viable and socially just transition pathways.”

Concluding the Summit, Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost of LUMS, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to advancing research-driven, evidence-based energy policy, while Dr. Fiaz Chaudhry noted that the discussions will inform practical and financially viable pathways for countries aligning development agendas with climate and energy imperatives.

The Asia Energy Transition Summit 2025 concluded with renewed commitments from government, private sector stakeholders and international partners to work collaboratively toward a resilient, sustainable and equitable energy future, highlighting Asia’s critical role in driving the global energy transition.

Lahore, June 26, 2025 – An international survey conducted across 17 total countries, including Pakistan, was commissioned by the Global Methane Hub to gauge public support for climate change solutions, particularly efforts to reduce methane pollution. In Pakistan, the survey was conducted in collaboration with LUMS.

According to the survey, 87% of Pakistanis support action to reduce the impacts of climate change, with 51% expressing strong support. 80% back efforts specifically aimed at reducing methane emissions, including 44% who strongly support such measures.

In Pakistan, public awareness of climate change is remarkably high: 96% of respondents affirmed their belief in climate change, with 71% attributing it to human activities—a figure that aligns with global trends. Among environmental concerns, water quality was ranked as the top issue, with 61% expressing strong concern, followed by air quality at 58% and climate change at 57%.

“Communities that are feeling the most heat—literally—are also the most vocal in calling for climate action,” said Marcelo Mena, CEO of the Global Methane Hub. “Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to bring temperatures down, and people know it. It’s not just science—it’s a direct response to what they’re experiencing on the ground.”

Amid increasing threats from heatwaves, floods, and worsening air pollution, 44% of Pakistanis expressed strong support for methane-specific climate action. Among the four Asia-Pacific countries surveyed, Pakistan, the Philippines (43%), and Indonesia (59%) all demonstrated a strong demand for policy action on methane, positioning the region as a leader in climate advocacy.

“Communities across Pakistan are already living through the harshest effects of climate change, from extreme heat and floods to droughts and toxic air. Evidence from secondary sources suggests that the country emits significant levels of methane, driven by a large agriculture sector, unmanaged waste, and an aging gas network. This survey is a timely wake-up call, underscoring the need to measure emissions, raise awareness, and implement targeted, practical solutions,” said Dr. Naveed Arshad, Director of LUMS Energy Institute and Professor at LUMS.

Pakistanis blame large oil and gas companies, waste management corporations, and agricultural producers most for environmental harms. In a separate question, respondents identified oil and gas companies, waste management organisations, and international government systems as the actors most capable of effectively addressing climate change.

Vast Majority of Pakistanis Support Action on Methane Pollution, Blame Industry for Harms

More than three in four Pakistanis said they support climate action plans – defined as “Nationally Determined Contributions” – that include a specific methane emissions reduction target. Support was similarly strong for methane reduction measures across key sectors:

● Energy sector: 79% support
● Agriculture sector: 79% support
● Waste management sector: 77% support