SIDS exchange experience on the application of ICTU guidance

From left to right: Spencer Thomas (Grenada); Kishan Kumarsingh (Trinidad and Tobago); Lennox Gladden (Belize); Luisa Tuiafitu-Malolo (Tonga); Alfred Rungol (Papua New Guinea); and Angeline C. Heine-Reimers (Marshall Islands).

2020 is a critical year where Parties have been encouraged to submit their revised or updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) which will become the basis for determining whether or not the world is on the right path to achieving the climate goal under the Paris Agreement.

At COP 24 in Katowice, Parties agreed on further guidance for NDCs, including elaborated guidance on the information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding (ICTU) and on the accounting. This guidance, voluntary for the first NDCs, due in 2020 but mandatory for the second set, due in 2025 provides clarification on the elements to be provided in NDCs and their accounting provisions.

As part of its capacity-building support to the Caribbean countries, on 28 September 2020, RCC St. George’s, RCC Bangkok, and the NDC Partnership team, in collaboration with the Caribbean Cooperative Monitoring, Reporting and Verification Hub, Regional Pacific NDC Hub, Alliance of Small Island States, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme, Inter-American Development Bank, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States offered a virtual exchange for small island developing States (SIDS) from the Pacific and Caribbean regions. The exchange aimed at enhancing technical capacities of experts from the Caribbean and Pacific SIDS who are in the process of preparing their new or updated NDCs in line with provisions relevant for preparation, communication, accounting and tracking of NDCs. Specifically, it was meant to:

• familiarize participants with the process and tools for the preparation and submission of new or updated NDCs;
• familiarize participants with guidance and tools for NDCs, including on ICTU, accounting and tracking of progress;
• familiarize participants with available tools and methods;
• discuss and share the challenges and needs of SIDS in relation to the NDC updating process; and
• share experiences, best practices, and lessons from countries.

The exchange also provided a platform for countries to discuss related challenges and how to address them in the NDC review process.

Prior to the exchange, pre-recorded presentations were made available to registered participants to enhance their understanding on the topic. The recordings of the presentations can be accessed here.

Tugba Icmeli, from Transparency, started by presenting an overview of the NDC process. In her presentation, she introduced key provisions for NDCs and how the NDC process is linked with the enhanced transparency framework and the global stocktake. Concluding her presentation, she highlighted the usefulness of well-established institutional arrangements, including MRV systems, which could not only enable Parties to keep track of their NDCs but also serve as a tool to improve their data management practices and coordination efforts among various stakeholders.

Both Caribbean and Pacific SIDS shared their experiences, best practices, and lessons. From the Caribbean, we had Kishan Kumarsingh sharing with participants diverse approaches established by Trinidad and Tobago to develop mitigation MRV systems and suggested standardized methodologies and procedures for reporting as well as building capacity of resources and personnel. In his closing remarks, he stated that Trinidad and Tobago is expanding their Monitoring Reporting and Verification system to include adaptation activities. From Belize, Lennox Gladden shared how they are incorporating Adaptation into their NDCs whiles considering effective sensitization, monitoring and communication systems. The final presentation from the Caribbean was given by Spencer Thomas who presented on the Grenadian experience on the ICTU guidance in structuring their NDCs. He found that the ICTU table is a useful tool in maintaining focus in the context of the NDCs and increased mitigation ambition is essential in contextualizing NDCs in general.

From the Pacific region, presenting on behalf of Tonga (representing the Polynesian Subregion), Luisa Tuiafitu-Malolo shared their best practices related to engagement of relevant stakeholders, raising awareness, aligning the NDCs with national development frameworks and long-term low emission development. According to her, they are currently planning to submit their enhanced NDC to the secretariat. Alfred Rungol from Papua New Guinea (representing Melanesian Subregion) also shared with participants some of the practical experiences his country encountered while revising their NDCs. He mentioned enhanced dialogues with focal points and consultants in the key sectors, including adaptation, coordination, and support from development partners, play an important role in their revisions. He also mentioned some challenges encountered including the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected in-person stakeholder exchanges. Finally, Angeline C. Heine-Reimers from the Marshall Islands (representing Micronesian Subregion) also shared her country’s practical experiences which included changes in organizational set up within their governments, building local capacities, creating working groups in the field of climate change and renewable energy.

Lastly, the Regional Pacific NDC Hub ended the session by presenting on how they are supporting and enhancing NDC revision in the Pacific. Looking at the NDC roadmap development, the Hub is trying to structure concrete projects into a project pipeline and looking closely at how to adapt to new technologies which align with national priorities.

The final Caribbean Virtual Exchange under this series will be held in October. It will be led by IaDB and will focus on Costing & Financing of NDCs.

We welcome all to join.

For more information on RCC St. George’s virtual exchange, please contact: (rccstgeorges@unfccc.int)[mailto:rccstgeorges@unfccc.int