The Republic of the Marshall Islands Nationally Determined Contribution 2031-2035.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands' indicative 2035 target is an absolute reduction in GHG emissions of at least 58% below 2010 levels by 2035, covering all major gases and sector. The overarching aim of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for adaptation efforts is to ensure the long-term safety and prosperity of its citizens and ecosystem when faced with climate threats. The timeframe of this policy covers the period of 1 January 2031 to 31 December 2035.
This NDC lays down mitigation priorities with the aims of providing a brighter, healthier, more secure future for the country and being a good global citizen as an exemplar in meeting its international obligations. Mitigation measures will be undertaken in the energy, transport, waste and forestry sectors. The energy sector will be regulated through an Energy Bill to increase the uptake of renewable energy, improve monitoring and corresponding action, as well as respond to NDC targets effectively. Key measures, such as replacing power plant diesel generators with clean energy technologies, will be implemented. This NDC addresses the significant role of women and young people in the clean energy transition. It also lays down actions to achieve zero and low-emission technologies for low carbon transport and to decarbonize its land transport, to further reduce its dependence on fuels.
The management of waste from all sources will be strengthened and the waste sector will be reformed, in order to safeguard the health of the environment and communities and reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions. The amount of waste produced will be reduced through rigorous recycling programs and product regulations to tackle non-organic waste, with the aim of reducing the volume of waste streams into landfills.
Forest conservation will be strengthened, as forests constitute an essential part of its food security and offer nature-based solutions to climate impacts. Efforts will be made to promote tree planting and replanting, and to preserve native varieties of local food trees, especially those which are endangered.
Adaptation priorities are to: (i) reduce RMI’s vulnerability to climate change impacts, especially sea-level rise; (ii) build and sustain adaptive resilience across all human and ecological facets of RMI; (iii) adapt through a self-determined approach that respects RMI’s heritage, benefitting its current and future generations; and (iv) enhance disaster risk preparedness, response and recovery.
The resilience of the fisheries sector to the impacts of climate change will be increased in order to safeguard local livelihoods and food security. The policy addresses ocean acidification, marine heatwaves and coral bleaching which have negative impacts on coral reefs and coastal fisheries, and on fisheries needed for livelihoods. Resource management plans will be developed across the atolls to better manage coastal fisheries and protect cultural heritage to support livelihoods in the outer atolls.
This NDC underlines the important role of the agriculture sector in terms of food security, job creation and income generation. It considers the agricultural sector as a key focus area to improve the resilience of the Marshallese. The reliance on imported foods will be reduced by increasing locally grown foods and improving the engagement of households in agricultural activities. This will ensure a healthier diet for the household, decreasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, and emission reduction. The policy also refers to the impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector, such as: changing the duration of crop growing seasons, increasing the amount of water needed, greater spread of pests and diseases, saltwater intrusion, loss of coastal land due to inundation, and droughts.
Gender equality will be promoted in climate-related decision-making. Efforts will be given to ensure that women have equal access to decision-making, education, and resources to participate fully in climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Gender-responsive climate action will be strengthened. The intersection of gender and climate will be addressed to create more inclusive, effective solutions that not only tackle environmental issues but also promote social and economic equity. Furthermore, youth will be included in climate process. The capacity of children and youth stakeholders will be built to engage in climate decision-making and programming. Early Childhood Development and climate change will be systematically integrated both at the agency and program levels. Climate change and gender equality training and education will be increased in schools.
The Government institutions will work with partners and the global community to access climate finance for all its sectors. They are also working on being accredited to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to attract more substantial, long-term concessional funding for green and climate investments. The Marshall Islands Resilience and Adaptation (MIRA) Trust Fund will be capitalized in a sustainable manner to effectively plan and oversee its national strategies against climate change impacts in the long-term.