The Government of Samoa, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) has successfully hosted the validation workshop of Samoa’s Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), marking a defining moment in Samoa’s climate leadership on a global scale.
Building on Samoa’s First NDC in 2015 and the Second NDC submitted in 2021, the NDC 3.0 process strengthens national ambition under the Paris Agreement, aligning climate action with Samoa’s sectoral plans, development priorities, and the urgent need to safeguard communities against climate risks.
Speaking at the opening, Chief Executive Officer of MNRE, Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown-Reupena, emphasised that NDC 3.0 is not just a policy exercise but “a shared vision for a resilient, low-carbon Samoa.”
“Samoa’s emissions are small – less than 0.01% of global totals. But our leadership is significant. By advancing a credible, inclusive, and ambitious NDC 3.0, Samoa strengthens its moral authority in the international climate negotiations.
Our actions here in Apia ripple out to the Pacific and beyond, amplifying the message that climate ambition must be universal,” she added.
The validation builds on lessons learned from Samoa’s Second NDC. A national stocktake exercise highlighted progress across multiple sectors, including advances in renewable energy where Samoa is on track to reach 70 percent renewable use by 2031 through initiatives such as home biogas, solar installations, energy audits, new PV and battery storage, and the Alaoa Multipurpose Dam already underway.
In transport, Samoa has taken its first steps towards decarbonisation by introducing electric vehicles, piloting charging infrastructure, and developing a national clean mobility strategy.
In the AFOLU sector, Samoa’s forest cover has increased by 1.63% since 2013, supported by the 3 million trees campaign and community agroforestry programs, while adaptation measures in agriculture, fisheries, health, and infrastructure are strengthening resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
At the same time, the stocktake revealed persistent challenges, including data gaps that limit the precision of emissions tracking and financing shortfalls, particularly in energy and transport transitions.
These lessons have directly shaped Samoa’s NDC 3.0, which prioritises scaling renewable energy and resilient grids, accelerating sustainable transport, expanding nature-based solutions to protect mangroves, forests, and marine ecosystems, improving waste management through circular economy approaches, and strengthening systems to measure, report, and verify progress with transparency. Above all, Samoa’s Third NDC seeks to ensure that climate finance flows to where it is most needed – communities on the frontlines of climate impacts.
The validation also launched Samoa’s national consultations for COP30, which will continue in the coming weeks with government institutions, communities, youth, and the private sector. These consultations will help shape Samoa’s position for the global negotiations in Brazil while reinforcing pathways for climate resilience and sustainable development at home.
Despite contributing less than 0.01 percent of global emissions, Samoa continues to demonstrate global leadership in climate action. As CEO reminded participants, “Equity and climate justice demand more decisive action from major emitters.
The survival of small island states depends on keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C.”
By validating an ambitious, inclusive, and credible NDC 3.0, Samoa once again demonstrates its commitment to climate ambition, resilience, and justice, reaffirming its role as a Pacific leader and a global voice for urgent, collective action.
The Ministry extends its deep appreciation to the UNDP Climate Promise, the NDC Partnership, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) for their technical and financial support, and to Grant Thornton Bharat, the lead consultancy team leading the delivery of Samoa’s NDC 3.0.
