The 10-Year strategy aims to improve NDC planning and policy, strategy, and legislation in Pacific island countries

Laying out the game plan for Pacific climate action through its Nationally Determined Contributions for the next decade, the long-term strategy of the Regional Pacific NDC Hub was officially launched by the Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States, and Fijian Prime Minister Hon Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama in Suva on April 8.

Pacific NDCs embody country efforts in targeting sustainable actions to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The “Strategy 2030” has been developed at the request of the Pacific Island leaders, presenting a pathway for partner countries to ensure smooth implementation of their country NDCs.

Launching the Strategy, Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama said the document is a key influencer for the shared prosperity and security of Blue Pacific, mirroring the Paris Agreement processes and aligning with the sustainable development agendas of the Pacific island countries.

“Climate action and the sustainable development agenda are inseparable; as we rebuild our economies from the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, climate investments present a unique opportunity for Pacific economies to build back better and ensure a green, blue, and inclusive recovery – this will require policy ingenuity, as well as genuine partnerships that translate these policies into action.”

“The strategy elaborates specific priorities across four broad outcome areas with measurable results. The implementation of the proposed interventions in the strategy will pose some challenges, but well-coordinated country support systems and informed decision-making, along with the support from the international community can bring its goals within reach,” said Hon. Bainimarama.

The 10-Year strategy aims to improve NDC planning and policy, strategy, and legislation in Pacific island countries; strengthen enabling environment for NDC implementation; accelerate NDC action on the ground through project/program implementation; and enhance NDC measurement, reporting and verification for transparency of action.

Speaking virtually during the launch event, the Chair of the NDC Hub’s Steering Committee, Mr Tutii Chilton, emphasized the need for deepened collaboration between diverse stakeholders to realise the ambition of the “Strategy 2030”.

“With the special camaraderie with the German, Australian, New Zealand and the United Kingdom Governments who have been the financial backbone of the Hub since 2018, several country requests are being serviced by the Hub in its 14 partner countries, from the development of NDC implementation roadmaps, investment plans, and project pipelines to building capacities for on the ground implementation of climate action projects,” said Mr Chilton.

“In order to continue this tremendous progress and come to the future, deepened engagement and collaboration with donors, technical partners and the broader development community is critical for achieving the core objectives of the ‘Strategy 2030’.”

Mr Chilton stressed that the “Strategy 2030” provides the signal for new and additional resources for NDC implementation in the Pacific region “that tends to lose decades of development from climate-induced natural disasters, compounded further by the effects of COVID-19.”

“Strategy 2030” is a product of robust consultation with the Pacific Island countries and various key stakeholders.

The NDC Hub Project Manager, Mr Christian Görg said that “the strategy draws on critical needs expressed by the Hub’s partner countries and has an all-round input from the Hubs implementation partners: the Pacific Community (SPC); the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and other partners such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Partnership (NDCP); as well as its donors.”

“It also builds upon the experiences made by the Hub in the first two phases, our lessons earned and our best practices.”

With the vision of: ‘A sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient Pacific, the ‘Strategy 2030’ is a testament that Pacific leadership on Climate Action has been sturdier, even as it navigates through the challenges of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This story was produced by Priya Chand, reposted via Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution Hub.