Background

The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to develop and maintain Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that align with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Recent Decisions of the Global Stocktake (GST), mandate more ambitious NDCs by 2025 and encourage Parties to come forward with economy-wide emission reduction targets that support the achievement of the 1.5 degree goal and mitigation of the climate crisis in this critical decade. To ensure sustainable growth and maintain its commendable low greenhouse gas emissions, the Caribbean must strategically transition to cleaner energy sources as it continues to develop towards a more climate-resilient economy. The Global Stocktake also emphasizes the importance of critical enablers of climate action, including capacity-building and finance. Recognizing the regional challenges in access to finance, as well as to data to inform the NDC process and investments required, it is crucial to develop NDCs considering its key enablers. The Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) process plays a critical role in providing the necessary data and information which serves as the starting point for informing the NDC process, funding needs and means for tracking NDC progress. At the same time, there are several avenues to be explored in terms of climate finance, including cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

This event will address Caribbean SIDS challenges by strengthening their ability to develop and implement ambitious and implementable NDCs, highlighting the links between NDCs, transparency reporting and climate finance, including the Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It aims to empower Caribbean islands to make informed decisions, design effective policies, and secure necessary resources, while providing a platform for governments to engage with regional and international bodies to address priorities, increase resilience, and overcome challenges.

Objectives

• To offer participants detailed information on the NDC process, including timelines, target years, relevant COP decisions, and the NDC design process.
• To inform participants about the support available for Caribbean countries in developing NDCs 3.0, including sharing best practices, key challenges, and technical aspects of the NDC reporting process under the Paris Agreement.
• To support participants in integrating sectors into NDCs and transparency reporting, enhance knowledge of climate finance, and showcase successful practices for effective NDCs 3.0.
• To enhance regional knowledge and practical skills on Article 6 mechanisms, including their application in NDC implementation and reporting, and provide a regional platform for Caribbean countries to discuss the role of carbon pricing in achieving national climate policies.

Event Summary 

On 14th-18th October 2024, the UN Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for the Caribbean (RCC Caribbean) together with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the NDC Partnership, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) conducted three days of capacity building on Article 6 and carbon pricing, followed by two days focused on the 2025 cycle of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0). 

The week of events, which commenced with an event focused on capacity building on Carbon Pricing and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, was officially opened by the Government of Grenada, represented by Minister Kerryne James, Minister of Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy. The opening session also featured opening remarks delivered by Mr. Perumal Arumugam, Manager of Markets, Non-Markets, and Stakeholder Interaction at the UNFCCC Mitigation Division, and Ms. Limya Eltayeb, Resident Representative of the UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. 

A second opening marked the beginning of the NDC days of events, led by Minister Kerryne James, Minister of Climate Resilience and Renewable Energy. This session was also honoured by the remarks of Mr. James Grabert, UNFCCC Director of the Mitigation Division, and Mr. Gianluca Merlo, Regional Technical Advisor of UNDP LAC Environment Team. 

Throughout the sessions, participants examined the NDC process and its relationship to the Enhanced Transparency Framework and climate finance, with particular emphasis on key regional sectors: Energy, Agriculture, and Transport. Updates from the OECS Commission and GIZ's Global Carbon Market project highlighted the formation of the Caribbean Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, aimed at enhancing Caribbean countries’ long-term climate goals through active participation in global carbon markets and coordinated climate finance strategies. Participants also delved into practical exercises on developing Article 6 project portfolio and corresponding adjustments under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. They also engaged in peer-to-peer discussions on Article 6 governance.  

The workshops featured 70 participants, including 44 representatives from non-Party stakeholders such as UN organizations, academia, youth, and NGOs. Attending organizations included the Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Youth Advocacy Group (YAG), RCO Head of Offices representatives (Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana), Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Caribbean Development Fund (CDF), Caribbean Climate MRV Hub, CBIT-GSP, Climate Analytics, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), ICAT Secretariat, OCA Global Consulting and Technical Advisory Services, University of Guyana, and University of the West Indies (UWI Cave Hill) and other global finance organizations.

Additionally, 26 representatives from 11 Caribbean countries participated including: The Bahamas, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.

The week of events counted with the collaboration of UNFCCC’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Article 6, Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) and Transparency workstreams.  

 Attendees gained valuable insights into the support available for Caribbean countries, shared best practices on Article 6 governance and discussed key challenges in NDC development, exploring potential solutions to address these issues. Among the best practices on NDC development, countries shared on the establishment of national multi-sectoral committees, ensuring alignment with national policies and the importance of continuous capacity building in key technical specialities. 

Credit: UN Climate Change

Credit: UN Climate Change