30 September 2015: The UNFCCC Secretariat has reported that Bhutan, Costa Rica, Dominica, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Lebanon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Zimbabwe have formally submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs). All the INDCs outline the countries’ intended mitigation contributions, as well as their adaptation priorities, needs and efforts.

In its INDC, Dominica explains that the country is employing an integrated response to climate change, with little distinction between adaptation and mitigation measures. It commits to progressively reduce total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2014 levels at the following reduction rates: 17.9% by 2020; 39.2% by 2025; and 44.7% by 2030, with all commitments conditional on receiving international financial, technological and capacity support. The INDC outlines that the goals will be achieved by reducing emissions in the following sectors: energy industries – 98.6% (principally from harnessing of geothermal resources); transport – 16.9%; manufacturing and construction – 8.8%; commercial/institutional, residential, agriculture, forestry, fishing – 8.1%; and solid waste – 78.6%. The INDC covers the following gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Israel’s INDC sets out the country’s intention to achieve an unconditional economy-wide emissions reduction target of 26% below 2005 levels by 2030. The target covers CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). It also covers the following sectors: electricity generation, other energy sources, transportation, industrial processes, buildings, waste and agriculture. The INDC further indicates that the country’s national emissions reduction target contains sector-specific targets, including: for energy efficiency, reducing electricity consumption by 17% relative to business-as-usual (BAU) in 2030; for renewable energy, generating 17% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030; and for public transport, making a 20% shift from private to public transportation.

The submission from São Tomé and Príncipe explains that the country is an absolute sink of GHG but as it is one of the most affected by climate change, adaptation and risk reduction from climate change impacts are national priorities. The INDC therefore contains both adaptation and mitigation contributions. On adaptation, the targets include: developing a national programme for sustainable management of the forest and agro-forestry ecosystems by 2025; and reducing the illegal and indiscriminate falling of trees by 15%, by 2030.

On mitigation, the INDC identifies four possible measures, all conditional on the receipt of international support: an isolated mini power plant; a hydro power plant connected to the main network; photovoltaic solar panels; and a mini-hydro power plant connected to the main grid (4 MW). Implementing these mitigation measures would mean the introduction of about 47% renewable energy in the national electricity system and a 24% national emission reduction below 2005 levels by 2030. The INDC covers all sectors of the national economy, as well as the following GHGs: CO2, CH4 and mono-nitrogen oxides nitric oxide (NO) and NO2 (NOx).

In its INDC, Ukraine sets out its intended contribution of limiting its GHG emissions to 60% compared to 1990 levels in 2030. The INDC states that the country will define an approach to include the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) in the climate change mitigation structure as soon as technical opportunities emerge, but no later than 2020. The INDC covers СО2, СН4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). It also covers the following sectors: energy; industrial processes and product use; agriculture, LULUCF; and waste.

The submission from Lebanon outlines the country’s unconditional targets of: 15% emission reduction below BAU by 2030; generation of 15% of the power and heat demand in 2030 from renewable energy sources; and 3% reduction in power demand through energy-efficiency measures in 2030 compared to BAU demand. It further sets out the following targets that are conditional on the country receiving international support: 30% emission reduction below BAU in 2030; generation of 20% of the power and heat demand in 2030 from renewable energy sources; and 10% reduction in power demand through energy-efficiency measures in 2030 compared to BAU demand under the BAU scenario. The INDC covers the following sectors: energy, industrial processes and other product use, agriculture, LULUCF, and waste. It also covers the following gases: CO2, CH4 and N2O. The INDC also outlines Lebanon’s key adaptation measures in the biodiversity, forestry and agriculture, and water sectors.

In its INDC, Guinea-Bissau explains that it is an absolute GHG sink, given the high potential for sequestration of its forest sector, and that the two main sectors with the highest emissions are its forest and energy sectors. The INDC further states that given the country’s development needs, its emissions are set to increase. It then outlines Guinea-Bissau’s intended mitigation measures, all of which are conditional upon the receipt of international support. These measures are as follows: to establish and schedule a new forestry policy; to conduct studies on the energy potential of the country and set the energy development incorporating the largest possible potential of renewable energies in the energy mix; and to develop and establish a legal framework through a national strategy for long-term low-carbon development. The gases covered are CO2, CH4, NOx.

The submission from Solomon Islands sets out the country’s intended contribution of 12% emission reduction below 2015 levels by 2025 and 30% below 2015 levels by 2030, compared to a BAU projection. In addition, it states that if the country receives international assistance, it can contribute a further: 27% reduction by 2025; 45% reduction by 2030; and 50% by 2050. The INDC focuses on CO2 only and covers the energy and LULUCF sectors.

Turkmenistan’s INDC explains that due to the country’s intensive economic growth, its GHG emissions will inevitably increase, due to rising energy production and consumption. The INDC indicates that Turkmenistan can however, with international support, achieve zero growth in emissions or even a decrease, in 2030. It sets out the main tools for achieving this goal, including energy efficiency and conservation, sustainable use of natural gas and petroleum products, and increased use of alternative energy sources. These efforts will focus on the industry, transport, housing and communal services sectors, and the following GHGs: CO2, CH4 and N20.

Zimbabwe’s INDC sets out the country’s conditional intended mitigation contribution of reducing its emissions by 33% below BAU by 2030. This goal is intended to be achieved through various projects including ethanol blending, solar water heaters, energy efficiency improvement, increasing hydro in the energy mix, and the refurbishment and electrification of the rail system. The mitigation contribution will focus on the energy sector and the following gases: CO2, CH4 and N20. The INDC also sets out Zimbabwe’s adaptation contribution which includes: promoting adapted crop and livestock development and climate-smart agricultural practices; building resilience in managing climate-related disaster risks such as droughts; strengthening management of water resources and irrigation in the face of climate change; and promoting practices that reduce risk of losses in crops, livestock and agricultural incomes.

Costa Rica’s INDC sets out the country’s intended contribution of achieving maximum net emissions of 9,374,000 tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. This target involves reducing its GHG emissions by 44% below BAU and 25% below 2012 levels, by 2030. To accomplish this goal, Costa Rica would have to reduce 170,500 tons of GHG per year until 2030, primarily by: reducing energy demand and GHG emissions (energy efficiency and conservation, low emissions development pathways); decarbonizing energy supply; fuel switching in end-uses; and enhancing carbon sinks (land-use, reforestation). The INDC covers CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6.

Bhutan’s INDC sets out the country’s intended contribution of remaining carbon neutral by ensuring that its GHG emissions do not exceed carbon sequestration by its forests, which is estimated at 6.3 million tons of CO2. Bhutan will maintain a minimum of 60% of total land under forest cover and will continue efforts to maintain current levels of forest cover, which currently stand at 70.46%. Bhutan intends to meet this commitment both by conserving its forests as carbon sinks and by managing its growing emissions (as a result of economic development) through priority strategies, plans and actions supporting a low emission development pathway. The INDC sets out some of the intended measures to achieve these goals, including sustainable forest management (SFM), conservation of environmental services and promotion of low-carbon transport. The INDC covers CO2, CH4 and 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 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, Dominica] [Dominica’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Israel] [Israel’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, São Tomé and Príncipe] [São Tomé and Príncipe’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Ukraine] [Ukraine’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Lebanon] [Lebanon’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Guinea-Bissau] [Guinea-Bissau’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Solomon Islands] [INDC of Solomon Islands] [UNFCCC Press Release, Turkmenistan] [Turkmenistan’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Zimbabwe] [Zimbabwe’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Costa Rica] [Costa Rica’s INDC] [UNFCCC Press Release, Bhutan] [Bhutan’s INDC]