The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Saudi Arabia and Sudan have formally submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), bringing the total number of Parties that have made their submissions to 159.
Saudi Arabia's INDC indicates it will pursue economic diversification and adaptation with the aim of generating mitigation co-benefits.
Sudan's INDC identifies objectives in the energy, forestry and waste sectors designed to guide the country toward low-carbon development.
10 November 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Saudi Arabia and Sudan have formally submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs), bringing the total number of Parties that have made their submissions to 159. Saudi Arabia’s INDC indicates it will pursue economic diversification and adaptation with the aim of generating mitigation co-benefits. Sudan’s INDC identifies objectives in the energy, forestry and waste sectors designed to guide the country toward low-carbon development.
Saudi Arabia’s submission presents plans and actions intended to achieve mitigation co-benefits totaling up to 130 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) in avoided emissions by 2030 annually. The INDC is contingent on: the country’s economy continuing to grow; continuing robust oil export revenues to the national economy; and economic and social consequences of international climate change policies and measures not posing a disproportionate or abnormal burden on the country’s economy.
The contribution identifies economic diversification actions that will generate mitigation co-benefits in five areas: energy efficiency; renewable energies; carbon capture and utilization/storage (CCUS); utilization of gas; and methane recovery and flare minimization. On energy efficiency, possible actions listed include setting efficiency standards in the building and transportation sectors, implementing energy efficiency measures in industrial establishments; and converting single-cycle power plants to combined-cycle.
Sudan’s INDC, which will be implemented from 2025-2030, covers three gases: CO2, methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The INDC proposes to establish a baseline business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, pending financial and technical support, noting that such a scenario for overall or sectoral emissions currently does not exist.
The intended actions outlined in Sudan’s submission for the energy sector are: integration of renewable energy into the power system; energy efficiency measures; and thermal electricity generation using natural gas. In the forestry sector, actions identified are afforestation and reforestation, and the implementation of the national REDD+ strategy. The Party also identifies waste sector actions related to collection, sanitary landfills and the zero waste concept.
Both INDCs address adaptation, identifying important sectors and planned actions. On means of implementation (MOI), Saudi Arabia’s submission is not contingent on receiving external financial support, but foresees a role for technology transfer and capacity building. Sudan estimates necessary international support at US$12.88 billion, of which US$1.2 billion would be for adaptation and the remaining US$11.68 billion for mitigation.
All Parties to the UNFCCC are expected to submit INDCs in advance of the Paris Climate Change Conference, which will take place 30 November – 11 December 2015. At the Conference, Parties are anticipated to agree on a global climate change agreement to take effect in 2020. [UNFCCC Press Release, Saudi Arabia] [Saudi Arabia’s INDC] [Saudi Arabia’s INDC – English] [UNFCCC Press Release, Sudan] [Sudan’s INDC] [UNFCCC INDC Portal]