22 October 2020 - Round-up of the Caribbean Virtual Exchange Series

The series supporting the Caribbean Region in NDC development comes to a close

Launched in May 2020, the Caribbean Virtual Exchange Series, came to an end on 22 October 2020, having spanned a period of 6 months. The series was focused on processes under the Paris Agreement for the preparation and submission of new and updated national climate plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Information shared during the exchanges provided guidance on how to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU) of NDCs amongst representatives from Caribbean countries, international and regional partners supporting these countries, and the consultants and technical specialists working in the region on NDCs.

The Caribbean region is confronted with the serious challenge of climate change. As a result, it’s forty million residents are exposed to increased vulnerability from changing weather patterns. In light of this, and although having a relatively negligible contribution to global GHG emissions, the countries of the region still plan to communicate their new and updated NDCs. In support of this effort, the RCC St. George’s/Caribbean Cooperative Monitoring Reporting and Verification Hub together with the NDC partnership, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB) and several other partners, launched the six-part Caribbean Virtual Exchange Series, geared towards enhancing the technical capacities of experts from the Caribbean and Pacific SIDS, who are in the process of preparing new or updated NDCs, due by the end of 2020.

The events allowed participants to engage with panellists from implementation, funding and supporting organizations to discuss in-depth aspects of practical planning and implementation of NDCs. In addition to the live webinars, participants of the Caribbean Virtual Exchange Series were provided with pre-recorded presentations to review at their convenience. This provided ample opportunity for participants to communicate questions, which resulted in meaningful and interactive discussions during the different sessions. From the discussions and information shared, the participants gained a wealth of knowledge on how to tackle NDC implementation. Many Caribbean countries have adapted the ICTU guidance to structure their NDC updates. Thus far Jamaica and Cuba have submitted their updated NDCs and 13 NDCs for the Caribbean Region outstanding.

Overall, the series provided participants with a robust overview of the different aspects of NDCs, providing technical expertise and experience sharing to aid NDC partner membership countries to accelerate their NDC implementation at scale. All participants were also introduced to key tools and methods that can be used for effective planning and implementation of their NDCs. This will aid countries to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement to mitigate climate change and enhance adaptation. RCC St. George’s will continue to support countries in finalizing the revision/update of their NDCs as well as implementation partners.