Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of the Commonwealth of Dominica .

This Dominica Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) is a multi-sectoral policy document at national level for the period of 2015-2030. Recognising Dominica’s common but differentiated responsibility and limited capabilities to address climate change, Dominica commits to progressively reduce total gross greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2014 levels (164.5 Ggs est.) at the following reduction rates: 17.9% by 2020; 39.2% by 2025; and 44.7% by 2030. By 2030, total emission reductions per sector will be as follows: Energy industries – 98.6% (principally from harnessing of geothermal resources); Transport – 16.9%; Manufacturing and construction – 8.8%; Commercial/institutional, residential, agriculture, forestry, fishing – 8.1%; Solid waste – 78.6%. Benefiting from sound management practices, Dominica forests will continue to sequester 100 Ggs of national GHG emissions on an annual basis during the period 2020 to 2030 (Page 1). This contribution is conditional upon receiving timely access to international climate change financing, technology development and transfer, and capacity building support for priority adaptation and mitigation measures.
The INDC outlines the mitigation measures proposed (page 8-11). The measure to reduce GHG emissions from the Agriculture Sector through the harnessing of biomass is among the high priority measures that will commence during the 2016-2020 period, as part of the energy efficiency program (page 11). Future priorities for building climate resilience (adaptation) are outlined in the NIDC, including those to enhance food security and promote poverty reduction: Promotion of Food Security through Climate Resilient Agricultural/Fisheries Development to build climate resilient communities by strengthening capacity to address climate change risks to food security associated with changing precipitation patterns; Creating the supportive enabling framework whereby communities and vulnerable segments of society (women, youth, elderly, people with disabilities) can manage their own climate change risks, thereby addressing climate change impacts on vulnerable sectors (particularly agriculture, fisheries and water resources) and threats to food security, human health, poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth; etc.
Other future priorities for building climate resilience (adaptation) outlined in the NIDC include:(1) Establishing early warning systems, multi-use disaster shelters (powered by renewable energy and back up bio-diesel generators) and emergency preparedness training programs in vulnerable communities; (2) design and implementation of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management education and awareness program at all levels to be coordinated by the Department of Climate Change, Environment and Development; (3) Facilitating capacity building through education, awareness and training programs on climate change risks and resiliency measures in order to strengthen capacity at the community and sectoral level, within municipalities and local authorities, and the private sector; (4) Promotion of Food Security through Climate Resilient Agricultural/Fisheries Development to build climate resilient communities by strengthening capacity to address climate change risks to food security associated with changing precipitation patterns; (5) Establishing the enabling legal/institutional framework to facilitate coordination/implementation of priority climate change measures and the mainstreaming of climate change activities into national, sectoral and community planning/development; etc.
Implementation of priority climate change programs is a joint responsibility led by the Ministry of Health and Environment. The Council for Environment, Climate Change and Development and the Department of Climate Change, Environment and Development that are to be legally established under the proposed Climate Change, Environment and Development Bill 2015 will be responsible for coordinating climate change programming in Dominica.