Saint Lucia has taken a significant step toward revising its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with a consultation by the National Climate Change Committee (NCCC) on September 9. In general, the country aims to strengthen its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Stakeholders Shape New Climate Goals
Chaired by the Department of Sustainable Development, the NCCC includes representatives from the ten climate-priority sectors. Notably, these stakeholders are actively involved in determining the nations’ updated climate pledges. Meanwhile, discussions continue to ensute all sectors are aligned with the new goals.
“In our most recent NDC,” said Permanent Secretary Anita Montoute, “we committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and transport sectors by 7%, below 2010 emissions by 2030.” However, she further added that “in keeping with Paris Agreement’s progression principle, Saint Lucia is now expected to submit a more ambitious NDC in 2025.”
Ambitious Climate Action Continues
Importantly, Montoute noted the country’s progress. She highlighted that Saint Lucia is monitoring and supporting over 67 climate-specific projects across the ten priority sectors. Furthermore, she added, “if we were to grade ourselves on the achievement of this target, our report booklet would show continuous ambitious action.”
NDCs and International Climate Obligations
An NDC is a country’s formal commitment under the Paris Agreement to cut carbon emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. Every five years, countries revise and submit their NDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Subsequently, Saint Lucia submitted its first NDC in 2015, followed by a revised edition in 2020.
Collaboration and Technical Support
The revision process for the 2025 NDC is supported by the NDC-TEC Project. This focuses on transforming the transport and energy sectors to become more climate-resilient and low-carbon. Additionally, technical guidance is provided by Climate Analytics, working alongside the Department of Sustainable Development’s Climate Change team and other national experts.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Saint Lucia plans to unveil its updated NDC in March 2025. The revision will reflect its ongoing commitment to ambitious climate action and international agreements. Ultimately, the country remains focused on exceeding its previous commitments and leading in the region’s climate resilience efforts.
Source: Government of Saint Lucia, govt. lc
