Damages after extreme weather in Saint Lucia

Regional approaches to NDC implementation in the Caribbean and Pacific

The value of cooperation, integrated approaches and knowledge sharing is becoming increasingly evident through regional networks and initiatives – for example in the Pacific and the Caribbean, regions strongly affected by climate change.

Promoting investments in climate-friendly and resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean

In the Caribbean, rising sea levels, hurricanes and other climate change impacts threaten to destroy people’s livelihoods. Therefore, the Caribbean countries have set themselves ambitious climate targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In order to accelerate action on NDC implementation in the region, the NDC Finance Initiative (NDCFI) was founded under the umbrella of the NDC Partnership. It seeks to build a regional platform for learning and support on project preparation and access to finance for NDC implementation. Catalysing investments in resilient and low-carbon infrastructure will be addressed in three working groups in following the priority sectors energy, water and critical infrastructure.

For 2019, the NDCFI supports the development of up to 10 investment-ready projects, among others through the support of the GET.Invest project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). This will enhance resilience to climate change impacts, push forward NDC implementation, and drive transformational change in the region.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the government of Saint Lucia are designing and managing the NDCFI, in cooperation with the NDC Partnership Support Unit and GIZ on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Advancing NDC implementation and ambition raising in the Pacific

Similar to the Caribbean, the Pacific Region is increasingly vulnerable due to more extreme weather patterns: rises in sea level, tropical cyclones, and lack of freshwater resources threaten lives and livelihoods throughout the region. The countries have therefore committed to ambitious NDCs, and are front-runners in international climate negotiations.

For Pacific Island Countries, a swift and ambitious implementation of their NDCs is crucial to transform economies on a low-carbon development path while increasing resilience to climate change. To achieve this, and to raise ambition in updated and revised NDCs, the countries called for a regional answer and support mechanism – the regional Pacific NDC Hub, in the framework of the NDC Partnership.

The Hub provides country- and sector-specific technical assistance and facilitates matchmaking of support for NDC implementation, enhancement and financing. It operates under the umbrella of the NDC Partnership, thus further fostering cooperation and coordination.

GIZ, as one of the main implementers of the Hub alongside the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), supports the start-up phase and implementation on behalf of BMZ. In addition, co-financing is provided by Great Britain’s Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).