24 July 2018: The Marshall Islands and the NDC Partnership co-hosted a Partnership Dialogue on Climate Change, which focused on supporting implementation of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by outlining national priorities to mobilize domestic and global partners and align resources with needs identified in the country’s draft NDC Partnership Plan for climate action.

The Marshall Islands’ NDC Partnership Plan identifies six priority areas: 1) mitigation of emissions and a reduced dependence on fossil fuels; 2) adaptation and resilience; 3) fully integrating gender and human rights measures into the country’s climate strategy; 4) capacity building so that all can contribute to the country’s NDC; 5) coordinated climate policy, finance and data to ensure a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response to climate change; and 6) global leadership and ambition. During the event, national and global partners began mapping available programmes and resources to help achieve results in the priority areas. The Partnership Plan will be reviewed and updated when necessary in collaboration with partners.

While the Marshall Islands only emits .00001% of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), the country has committed to reduce emissions by 32% below 2010 levels by 2025 under its existing NDC, and it set an indicative target to reduce emissions by 45% below 2010 levels by 2030, involving significant reductions in emissions from electricity generation, waste and transportation.

The Dialogue showcased the potential of the Marshall Islands to act as a “lighthouse” to other countries.

Speaking during the event, Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands, confirmed that her country will finalize its long-term 2050 Climate Strategy by August 2018 with a view to launching it in September. The Marshall Islands’ draft long-term 2050 Climate Strategy aims to reach net zero emissions and 100% renewable energy by 2050, and boost climate resilience. The Dialogue provided the opportunity for feedback on the draft 2050 Strategy, which is expected to serve as the basis for the country’s new and more ambitious NDC before 2020, and on the NDC Partnership Plan, which will respond to the country’s priorities for NDC implementation over the next few years.

The Marshall Islands is one of the first countries to anchor short-term NDC implementation under the framework of a longer-term 2050 strategy, which describes immediate steps required to put the economy on the path to decarbonization and climate resilience. The Dialogue also showcased the potential of the Marshall Islands to act as a “lighthouse” to other countries, including through its convening of the High Ambition Coalition and as incoming Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), to enhance their NDCs.

The Marshall Islands was one of the first countries to join the NDC Partnership, which now includes 77 countries, 18 international institutions and four associate members. The Partnership supports more than 30 developing countries to enhance and implement their NDCs under the Paris Agreement on climate change through technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge sharing and facilitating access to finance.

The dialogue convened in Majuro, Marshall Islands, on 23 July 2018. [NDC Partnership Press Release] [Information on the Dialogue] [Event Website]