A Pacific-led and owned initiative to help Pacific nations implement their climate targets under the COP21 Paris Agreement, has been hailed as an example of the region’s global climate leadership.
The Pacific NDC Hub platform was set up in 2017 by Pacific Leaders to assist countries find data, resources and expertise to enable them to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), also known as climate targets.
“Through the support of the NDC Hub, we work to update our NDCs, develop NDC Investment plans, establish Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, and implement small projects on-the-ground to realise the ambitious targets outlined in our NDCs,” said Debra Sungi of Papua New Guinea.
Sungi is chair of the Steering Committee that oversees and provide strategic direction to the work of the NDC Hub – headquartered in Suva, Fiji Islands.
“Our Focal Points and government officials shape and guide the country requests implemented by the NDC Hub, to ensure they meet our countries’ priority needs for NDC support.
Addressing a regional NDC Focal Point meeting at the Shangri La Hotel on the Coral Coast in Sigatoka, Sungi acknowledged that while the Pacific and its people are at the forefront of the global impacts of climate change – experiencing rising sea levels, severe story and changing crop patterns – they are also taking the lead in local and global action to address this issue.
Citing the leadership shown by Pacific countries at last year’s climate change COP in Sharm-Al Sheikh, Sungi said their influence shaped the agenda for a loss and damage financing mechanism.
“We also see this in the recent adoption of the resolution seeking an Advisory Opinion on climate change by the International Court of Justice, championed by Vanuatu together with all Pacific Island Countries.
“And we see this across every community in the Pacific, where we are working to plant climate resilient crops, move our homes to higher grounds, install solar panels and take many further actions to mitigate and adapt towards the impacts of climate change on our region,” said Sungi.
Seven years after its inception and housed under its lead implementing partner, GIZ, the regional NDC hub will be handed over to the Pacific Community (SPC) in September 2024.
The decision was formally announced to NDC focal points, donors at partners at the meeting in Shangri La Hotel Thursday.
“In May this year, I sent an email to all of you the NDC focal points seeking your views on which organisation within the region that you feel comfortable to have the NDC hub being housed in. From the discussions that we will have both the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). We approached the two organisations and gave our recommendations. We have now agreed the hub will be housed at SPC and it will be supported by SPREP,” said Sungi.
In response, GIZ where the hub is currently hosted, is happy to see the NDC Hub move to the SPC, in the next phase from September 2024.
“This will strengthen the Pacific ownership of the NDC Hub, by embedding it within the CROP organisations, and their mandate to support the Pacific. We are certain that this handover will create great outcomes for the Pacific, as the NDC Hub continues its work, guided by its long-term strategy,” said NDC Hub Project Manager, Iris Cordelia Rotzol.
In its six years, the NDC Hub has supported 62 country requests over three project phases – with funding support of €15.5 million(US$16.8 million).
“In the current phase this includes support to the Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT LEDS) in the Solomon Islands, through GGGI, the review and update of Palau’s INDC, through SPC, the development of Tuvalu’s greenhouse gas Data Repository, through SPREP and the Biogas installation at a rural educational institution in Vanuatu, through GIZ,” said Rotzol.
SPC’s director of Climate Change and Sustainability, Coral Pasisi acknowledged the great commitment of countries focal points to the NDC hub and more specifically in the steering committee. We also notice a good balance between partners’ involvement and acknowledge good relations with donors (Germany, New Zealand, Australia, UE), according to the SPC.
“Thank you GIZ for managing and coordinating the NDC hub. The spirit of collaboration is a strength of our NDC hub with efficient governance processes (steering committee, coordination group, technical group).
“This is a good modus operandi for distributing projects that meet the demands of the countries among the partners,” said Pasisi.
The Hub currently serves member countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
The Regional Pacific NDC Hub is administered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and implemented in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The NDC Hub implements its activities with financial support from the European Union, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia.
SOURCE: SPC/PACNEWS
