The Third National Communication (TNC) for Vanuatu is ready for submission to the UNFCCC this month.
Vanuatu’s Third National Communication is an essential document for Vanuatu to fulfill its reporting obligation as a Party to the UNFCCC. This report shows how Vanuatu is progressing in meeting its’ international commitments on climate change. The Third National Communication report, lays out the level of vulnerability and risks we face to the current impacts of climate change, how we are coping with these impacts, and what the future might look like as the climate rapidly changes. Furthermore, this report describes Vanuatu’s greenhouse gas emissions and documents the mitigation actions the nation is taking in the pursuit of low-carbon and climate-resilient development.
Vanuatu has taken significant policy and institutional reforms as evidence of its’ continued support to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. The National Sustainable Development Plan to attain overall sustainable development goals, National Energy Roadmap to achieve clean energy targets by 2030, and, the National Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy for increasing resilience and adaptive capacity are central elements of Vanuatu’s efforts to cushion the impacts of climate change. Moreover, Vanuatu has been partnering and working with expertise at both global and national levels in assessing and resourcing various sectors to climate-proof its’ economy and secure a sustainable future for the country.
Climate change is the most critical existential threat of our time, and its adverse impacts pose significant threats to the sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing of Vanuatu’s people. It is against this critical conditions that Vanuatu urges committed global action against climate change. Most importantly this will also entail strengthening the implementation of the Paris Agreement and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5⁰C above the pre-industrial level.
The Minister for Climate Change Hon. Bruno Leignkikon in his forward address would like to convey his sincere gratitude for the efforts of the various partners and stakeholders for their contributions to make this national report are reality. Through their comprehensive efforts last year 2020, the report will inform the global community of the gravity of the issue of climate change and the urgent need for their support and action to mitigate the adverse impacts in this country. "As demonstrated through this report, Vanuatu’s commitment augments our push towards meeting the essential goals of the UN Climate Convention and Paris Agreement obligations", the Minister said.
The TNC Report has already been endorsed by the National Advisory Board on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in Vanuatu (NAB) at its fifth Meeting in December 2020 and currently awaits the Council of Minister's (COM) approval before its submission to the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The Government would also like to thank the UNDP who administered the funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) with support from the Government of Vanuatu for the successful completion of this TNC Report.
This document can be accessed through the NAB Portal under Resources. Contact the Ministry of Climate Change on phone 22068 for more information on the Report.