Antigua and Barbuda Updated Nationally Determined Contribution for the period 2020 – 2030.

The Nationally Determined Contribution is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. This NDC will cover the period 2020 to 2030 and includes mitigation and adaptation targets to increase resilience to climate change as well as targets designed to (I) reduce transitional risks, (II) support vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly and people living with disabilities, (III) support an inclusive, gender responsive approach to the energy transition with special focus on women fully participating in the new economy and provide support for men working within the power and transportation sectors as the transition advances, (IV) support youth fully with a gender responsive approach for girls and boys of all income levels in meeting the new challenges and opportunities that this process can provide, and (V) provide investment and business opportunities for local micro, small, and medium enterprises and businesses in the informal sector.
This updated NDC is an update of the 2015 INDC and does not replace the previously communicated targets as set out in the INDC. Rather, the updated NDC maintains targets not met and updated some targets to reflect more ambition. The INDC was a 10-year document and is still relevant as all targets were not achieved. This NDC is building on the achievements of the last five years and new information on marked decreases in technology cost, which has allowed more ambition for some targets. To this end, this NDC lays down strategies and approaches aligned with the developmental priorities of the country and where appropriate, examined a sector coupling approach for the energy and agricultural sectors, energy and resilience building, energy and transportation and decoupling of energy for economic growth. This approach aims at reducing the overall cost of mitigation and adaptation projects, while reducing the importation of fossil fuel and concentrating on the abundant solar and wind energy resources.
Regional engagement will be strengthened to achieve low carbon and climate resilient development in line with the Paris Agreement. The legal, policy and institutional framework will be strengthened for a low carbon emission development pathway to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development. Fiscal policies on fossil fuel will be changed by 2025 to enable the transition to 100% renewable energy generation in the transportation sector. Studies will be carried out to explore the potential for emissions reductions in the agriculture, forestry and other land Use sector. All remaining wetlands, watershed areas, and seagrass bed areas with carbon sequestration potential will be protected as carbon sinks. The potential for reducing emissions will be explored in the waste sector. Renewable energy generation and storage systems will be improved for effective adaptation. Water supply infrastructure and education, health, food security, and emergency shelter facilities will be powered by their own grid-interactive renewable energy sources. All waterways will be protected to reduce the risks of flooding and health impacts.
Gender equality will be ensured by recognizing and integrating the different and complementary roles of men and women into policies and strategies on climate change. Support will be provided to farmers and their families to allow them affordably manage and transfer risks resulting from drought and hurricanes, while supporting food security taking into account the differential needs of male and female farmers. Training and skills development programmes will be carried out in collaboration with training providers to enable the creation of new jobs in the labour force, enhance youth employability and ensure their access to meaningful and decent work. Social inclusion will be enabled for vulnerable communities to facilitate their involvement in the energy transition and help them build resilience and mitigate losses that are caused by climate change.