The Commonwealth of Dominica’s Updated Nationally Determined Contributions.

The Updated Nationally Determined Contributions is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach, covering the period between 2020 and 2030. The overall aim of this policy is to reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions to 45% below 2014 levels by 2030. This NDC includes targets for all three pillars of climate action: mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
This NDC lays down GHG emission reduction targets by 2030 in the energy, agriculture, solid waste, industrial processes, transport, shipping, commercial/institutional, residential and fisheries sectors. Based on a recently completed baseline consumption and phase-down assessment, Dominica sets a target to reduce hydroflourocarbons emissions by 10% by 2030. Additional non-greenhouse gas targets have also been identified for renewable energy, as well as the land use, land use change and forestry and agriculture sectors. For renewable energy, Dominica has set a target of 100% renewable energy usage by 2030 and energy saving measures, such as encouraging the transition to renewable energy use and energy conservation practices in food preparation through public awareness campaigns. Dominica has set a target of 50% emissions reduction in the agriculture sector, 50% increase in agroforestry farmers, 20% emissions reduction in the transport sector, 100% emissions reduction in the shipping sub-sector, and the transition to sustainable waste management and a circular economy by 2030. The National REDD+ strategies define, inter alia, direct and indirect drivers of deforestation, baselines and forest monitoring systems, reference emissions levels, social and environmental safeguards. The overall target for the land use, land use change and forestry sector has been defined as 980% increase in carbon sequestration by 2030.
This NDC adopts adaptation actions for the integration of climate change considerations into the planning, development and implementation of all activities at all levels; incorporation of adaptive responses consistent with national social, economic and environmental developmental goals; and protection of state property, resources and services from the adverse impacts of climate change. Ecosystem-based approaches will be integrated into the adaptation or the conservation, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems to help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. The management, conservation and sustainability of coastal and marine resources will be strengthened through the pillars of the Blue Economy, such as sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development, food security, sustainable fishing communities and livelihoods, integrated coastal zone management, protection of marine inshore habitats, and climate change adaptation. Climate-smart agriculture practices will be adopted to achieve food security, crop genetic diversity, increased soil organic matter, soil fertility, and the management of landscapes, including cropland, livestock, forests and fisheries.
This NDC sets resilience targets at the household, community, district and national levels to contribute to the successful transformation of the country onto a climate-resilient, low-carbon development path. These targets include: establishing early warning systems; capacity building on climate change risk management and resiliency measures; food security through climate-resilient agricultural/fisheries development to build climate resilient communities; and sustainable financing mechanism. Gender equality will be mainstreamed through a more inclusive approach to climate action to ensure a pathway to more effective, climate-resilient action. The NDC Gender Mainstreaming Roadmap (GMR) has been drafted which sets out the main steps required for the translation of gender and climate goals, understand the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change, empower all persons regardless of gender to manage and respond to climate risks. Priority climate change adaptation measures will be identified in collaboration with the Kalinago Group to reduce threats to the people, culture, livelihoods and existence of the Kalinago Territory. The Climate Change and Environment Trust Fund will be administered by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Development. It will be used solely to finance the implementation of: (i) Dominica’s Nationally Determined Contributions, (ii) Dominica`s Low Carbon Climate Resilient Development Strategy, and (iii) Dominica`s Climate Change Adaptation Policy.