News

Regional Pacific NDC Hub completes first phase of NDC implementation in the Pacific

On 31 March 2020, the Regional Pacific NDC Hub (NDC Hub) successfully completed the first phase of delivering NDC implementation activities in the Pacific region. GGGI is one of four NDC Hub delivery partners along with GIZ (lead partner), Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

During the first phase from October 2019 to March 2020, GGGI started delivering services and activities in seven Pacific Island Countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands. In the first phase, the NDC Hub has successfully started the implementation through GGGI of the following activities:

  • NDC Implementation Roadmaps, NDC Investment Plans and project pipelines in energy efficiency and transport (land, maritime and aviation) in Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Fiji (this activity will also start soon in Samoa);
  • MRV system support in the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands;
  • NDC enhancement support in Tonga;
  • Knowledge sharing with a Guide to Green Entrepreneurship and NDC Implementation Roadmap Development Guidelines for SIDS publications in Fiji, Kiribati, and Vanuatu;
  • A green entrepreneur learning and networking event in Fiji; and,
  • knowledge sharing at the regional level with the publication of monthly newsletters and by supporting the organization of several regional events.

The energy efficiency sector draws a special focus on transitioning to renewable energy use in PICs.

On 01 April the NDC Hub entered its second phase of implementation which will last until the end of 2021. This momentous occasion also marks the renewal of the partnership between GIZ and GGGI.

The timely delivery of all these activities has been well received by the Government counterparts of the NDC Hub. In Kiribati, a recent national stakeholder consultation discussed the ambitious pathways of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. For example, since the people of Kiribati depend on the maritime sector for local transport and fishing, transitioning from 2-stroke to 4-stroke electric outboard motors and revitalizing its traditional sailing culture will help greening of this sector. Kiribati demonstrates inspirational climate leadership for a country which has negligible additions to global GHG emissions.

The maritime sector is a priority in NDC enhancement in Pacific Island Countries.

Similar work is being delivered in Tuvalu. Ms. Pepetua Latasi, Director of Tuvalu Department of Climate Change and Disaster stated during the inception mission of this work that “Tuvalu is an LDC (Least Developed Country) and the impacts we face are enormous. We have requested the NDC Hub to provide technical assistance to prepare the NDC roadmap, and at the same time we realized the importance of identifying targets from different sectors and the investments we can put through to support these sectors”.

As a unit, the Pacific NDC Hub is optimistic about keeping up the momentum and accelerating NDC implementation in fifteen Pacific Island member countries in the second phase.

Due to the current global pandemic, work in NDC Hub member countries has shifted to virtual mode. The NDC Hub will continue to deliver its activities planned for the second phase virtually as much as the situation allows. This has already started in March with interviews and meetings on Skype for the enhancement of Tonga’s NDC. A key upcoming virtual event for the NDC Hub will be consultations of stakeholders in Fiji in May 2020 to receive feedback on the preparation of Fiji’s NDC investment plans and project pipeline through GGGI.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are national climate change mitigation plans which highlight a country’s climate actions through climate-related targets, policies and projects. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, countries are required to prepare, communicate, and maintain successive NDCs in contribution to global climate action.

The Regional Pacific NDC Hub is implemented through a partnership between GIZ, GGGI, SPC, and SPREP in contribution to NDC Partnership, with financial support from Germany, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australian Governments.