Sierra Leone’s intended nationally Determined Contribution (INDC).

This document presents Sierra Leone’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) in response to decisions adopted at the 19th and 20th sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As a multi-sectoral policy document at national level, it includes both conditional mitigation and adaptation components based on Sierra Leone’s national circumstances and in line with decisions 1/CP.19 and 1/CP.20 The vision of the Sierra Leone INDC is to create a new era for a harmonious relationship between the economy, environment, social and long term sustainability; shifts to a green economy and provides for the identification and implementation of various mitigation and adaptation measures. The goal of the INDC and the accompanying action plan is to prepare the government and people of Sierra Leone to limit their carbon footprint; reduce or minimize risks by improving adaptive capacity, reducing vulnerability to climate change impacts and increasing the resilience and sustainable wellbeing of all citizens; and to leverage new opportunities and facilitate collaboration in-country and with regional and global communities
The INDC outlines a target, dependent on the availability of international support on finance, investment, technology development and transfer, and capacity building, to maintain the emission levels of Sierra Leone relatively Low (close to the world average of 7.58 MtCO2e) by 2035 or neutral by 2050 by reducing her carbon footprint and by following green growth pathways in all economic sectors. Sierra Leone intends to also present an intensity based reduction target by 25 to 35 percent, by 2050 compared to base year including use of international credits well as the vision to hold per capita emissions in Sierra Leone’s average world level in the longer term.
This INDC is a strategic document concretizing Sierra Leone’s shift in its development path from brown to green economy and to achieve sustainable development, based on its own socio-economic and development priorities. The strategies outlined in the INDC in the area of adaption include those to promote agriculture production in an environment sustainable manner, including: 1. Management of rangelands and pastures by managing grazing systems and grazing intensity, fire management and pasture; 2. Integrated management of crops and Livestock management; 3. Restoration of degraded lands with high production potential; 4. Management of coastal and fisheries resources through promotion of non-destructive fishing techniques to maintain resilience of marine ecosystems. Two of the main strategies/policies in the area of mitigation are: Adoption and application of climate-smart and conservation agriculture through best agricultural practices that enhance soil fertility and improve crop yield; Developing agricultural and urban waste incineration programmes for energy production.
The INDC promotes to reduce rural poverty. One of adaption strategies is set up as: strengthening the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable groups and communities through social safety nets and insurance schemes.
Priority climate change response strategies have been identified and included in the INDC. The strategies in the area of mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions include: Enhancement of waste management systems at all levels to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; Institutionalization of coordination, monitoring, reporting and verification of climate change issues by strengthening the Environment Protection Agency for effective and efficient provision of technical policy advice to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for relevant decision making in transitioning to green economic growth; etc. Transformation of the National Meteorological Services of Sierra Leone and strengthening of Climate Change Early Warning System of Sierra Leone; etc. The strategies in the area of adaption include: - Promotion and facilitation of early warning and disaster preparedness system. - Strengthen integration of climate change adaptation into the health Sector. -Mainstream climate change adaptation in land reforms.