6 October 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Bosnia and Herzegovina has formally submitted its intended nationally determined contribution (INDC), bringing the total number of Parties that have made their submissions to 150.

In its INDC, Bosnia and Herzegovina sets out its intended unconditional greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction of 2% below business-as-usual (BAU) emissions by 2030; which translates into a 18% increase in emissions compared to the base year 1990, rather than the 20% BAU scenario. The INDC further outlines a possible emission reduction of 3% below 1990 levels, which amounts to 23% below the BAU scenario, conditional upon the receipt of international support. The INDC, which is economy-wide, covers carbon dioxide (СО2), methane (СН4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).

All Parties to the UNFCCC are expected to submit INDCs in advance of the Paris Climate Change Conference, which will take place in November-December 2015. Those that were submitted by 1 October 2015 will be included in a synthesis report on their aggregate effect by 1 November 2015. Parties are anticipated to agree on a global climate change agreement to take effect in 2020 at the Paris Climate Change Conference.

In related news and demonstrating subnational climate action, the state of California, US, has adopted a target to double the rate of energy efficiency savings in California buildings and generate half of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The target was signed into law on 7 October 2015 by the state Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. The legislation, titled ‘SB-350 Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015’ also establishes state policy to promote transportation electrification to meet the state’s climate and clean air goals. [UNFCCC Press Release, Bosnia and Herzegovina] [Bosnia and Herzegovina’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, California] [Governor of California’s Press Release] [SB-350 Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015]