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The extreme amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) being released into the atmosphere has proved to be a globally challenging phenomenon that leads to changes in the climate and global warming. The amount of GHGs in the atmosphere has escalated immensely, with a substantial growth of 5.8% in 2010; a similar increase was observed in Pakistan as well. In Pakistan, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions stand at 54% of total GHG emissions whereas methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic carbon contribute to emissions at 36%, 9%, 0.75% and 0.3%, respectively. One of the key reasons for climatic changes is GHG emission generation from human interventions and activities related to transportation, urban development, industrialization, energy sources, farming and agriculture, waste's improper management, land use and forestry. In 2011, Pakistan's entire GHG emissions were a whopping 347 Mt of CO2‐eq, and by 2050, they are estimated to reach 4621 Mt CO2‐eq. This review evaluates and assesses GHG emissions generating from various sectors in Pakistan, in a socio‐scientific prospect that is caused by human activities and interventions in different economic sectors in Pakistan, endangering the environment across the country. Additionally, the review examines the current level of GHG emissions while accounting for China–Pakistan Economic Corridor–based emissions, abatement strategies including development of a state‐of‐the‐art technique for carbon capture and storage/utilization technologies in Pakistan. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ensuring adequate implementation of solar energy for providing environment-friendly energy to the household sector, which can considerably abate pollutants in the environment and make power industry structure sustainable, is necessary for developing countries. Comparison in terms of environmental and cost impacts of renewable energy (hybrid solar system) with non-renewable energy sources, water and planning development authority (WAPDA), and diesel generators (DGs) has been examined in the household sector of Pakistan. Primary data of hybrid solar systems have been obtained from 10 different households segregated them into two categories according to their income as medium-income households (MIHs) and lower income households (LIHs) containing 5 kW and 3 kW of hybrid solar energy systems, respectively. While operating with a hybrid solar energy system instead of a non-renewable energy system, in terms of average generated power and average running load, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions can be reduced up to 8,446.6 kg CO 2 and 6,131.725 kg CO 2 , respectively, in the next 25 years. Comparison of costs indicated that renewable energy has a comparatively low cost per electric unit. It can pay back its total installation cost in just 8 years and can save a sum of $4,936.4375, along with many more ecological, economic, and societal benefits. Pakistan can efficiently utilize solar energy to relegate CO 2 emissions and general costs as it has distinct geographical features to access sunlight in most days of the year. Keywords CO 2 emissions • Energy efficiency • Renewable energy • Hybrid solar • Household comparison • Cost analysisPublisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.