23 September 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Montenegro, Mauritania and Ghana have formally submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), bringing the total number of Parties to have done so to 68. In their submissions, Montenegro, Mauritania and Ghana commit, respectively, to reduce emissions by 30%, 22.3% conditionally, and 45% conditionally, all by 2030. Montenegro’s target is in comparison to 1990 levels, and the latter two use a business as usual (BAU) reference level.

Montenegro’s contribution of 30% reductions compared to the 1990 base year covers the energy, industrial, transport, agriculture and forests, building and environment sectors. The country intends to achieve its target through a general increase in energy efficiency and the share of renewables, modernization in the power sector, and improvement of industrial technologies. Gases covered are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). The INDC targets the energy, industrial processes, agriculture and waste sectors. Assuming effective accounting rules are developed under the UNFCCC to ensure environmental integrity, Montenegro intends to participate in international carbon markets to reach its goals. The submission does not address adaptation.

The Mauritanian INDC puts forward a mitigation objective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 22.3% by 2030 in comparison to projected emissions in a BAU scenario. Twelve percent of this goal is unconditional, while the remaining 88% is dependent on international support. Mauritania estimates its needs at US$17.6 billion, of which US$9.4 billion is necessary for adaptation and US$8.2 billion for mitigation. The INDC targets the energy, agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), industrial processes and waste sectors. It covers the following gases: CO2, CH4 and N2O. The INDC also describes the country’s adaptation agenda, including its priority actions.

The submission from Ghana includes an unconditional goal of reducing emissions by 15% relative to a BAU reference scenario and a conditional target of an additional 30% reduction by 2030. The INDC’s additional 30% target is conditioned on the provision of external support in the form of finance, technology transfer and capacity building. To achieve these mitigation targets, Ghana lays out policy actions in the energy, industry, transport, agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), and waste sectors. Under energy and industry, the country includes quantified goals: scaling up renewable energy penetration by 10% by 2030; doubling energy efficiency improvement to 20% in power plants; and doubling energy efficiency improvement to 20% in industrial facilities. The Party also sets a long-term adaptation goal of increasing climate resilience and decreasing vulnerability for enhanced sustainable development, and identifies strategic areas and policy actions in key sectors.

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 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. [UNFCCC Press Release, Montenegro] [Montenegro’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Mauritania] [Mauritania’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Ghana] [Ghana’s INDC] [UNFCCC INDC Portal]