This Updated Nationally Determined Contribution is a revised version of the First Nationally Determined Contribution of 2015 which includes: (I) a reaffirmation of its 2030 target; (II) a commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; (III) up-front information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding; (IV) a commitment to enact its Climate Change Bill by 2021; and (V) a commitment to operationalize its National Adaptation Plan. In addition to the mitigation targets of Fiji s 2015 NDC, this updated NDC commits to: reduce domestic maritime shipping emissions by 40%; adopt Climate Smart Agriculture practices, with emphasis on the promotion of sustainable practices in crop management, livestock and sugarcane farming and fisheries; enhance resilience by upgrading, repairing and relocating existing critical public infrastructure; develop simplified and standardised early warning and monitoring systems, and prioritise nature-based solutions to mitigate the impact of floods and cyclones; relocate highly vulnerable communities, and implement the concept of build back better ; build strong healthcare system by implementing the Guidelines for climate-resilient and environ-mentally sustainable health care facilities in Fiji ; conserve natural environment and biodiversity wealth enabling sustainable long-term provision of ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration potential; plant 30 million trees by 2035; and establish 30% of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) as Marine Protected Areas and work towards 100% management of EEZ by 2030 through the implementation of the National Ocean Policy.
Fiji commits to reduce 30% of BAU CO2 emissions from the energy sector by 2030 in the electricity generation and transmission, demand-side energy efficiency, land and maritime transport sub-sectors and this updated NDC increases its scope to include the oceans sector. Data collection and monitoring, reporting and verification systems will be strengthened to assess and monitor economy-wide emissions. This updated NDC mainstreams blue economy ambitions in to its NDC targets through enhanced ocean governance to not only achieve national ocean conservation but also contribute towards enhancing the ocean as a carbon sink. To this end, this NDC underlines the need to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems, strengthen their resilience, and restore them when they are degraded. This includes conserving ocean reservoirs as carbon sinks through supporting the restoration, enhancement and conservation of coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, sea grasses and coral reefs. The decarbonisation ambitions in the Low Emission Development Strategy will be operationalized by implementing the NDC Investment Plan that is targeted towards creating a strong business case for mobilising new and additional climate finance. Sustainable production and consumption will be ensured for holistic climate action. This updated NDC incorporates gender considerations into the adaptation and mitigation by improving the support to gender-balance in both the decision-making processes and related implementation arrangements, promoting gender-equitable benefits, and achieving outcomes which ensure that gender is a key consideration when programming finance and capacity-building.
Climate change adaptation will be strengthened taking into account the environment, economy, social development, as well as cultural practices and traditional ways of life. Sustainable and resilient development will be promoted by enabling key stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels and the role of its local government bodies will be strengthened to make informed decisions regarding the use of natural resources. In order to enhance the adaptive capacity of its economy and communities, Fiji will endeavour to produce and make accessible reliable, robust, and updated climate information, including projections for impacts of climate change. Measures will be taken to increase the resilience of public infrastructure to cyclones and floods and nature-based economically viable solutions will be prioritized. A comprehensive and integrated water resource management approach will be applied to conserve and enhance the productivity of freshwater resources and ensure their judicious and equitable use. The conservation and protection of marine biodiversity and critical ocean ecosystems will be prioritized. This would include measures for promoting sustainable fishing practices, coastal protection, preservation, and enhancement of its mangroves, and engaging with coastal communities to promote sustainable practices and livelihoods. Comprehensive multi-hazard and risk assessments will be conducted to inform the planning and development of climate-resilient human settlements. The resilience of the agriculture sector will be increased to ensure national food security and diversify the dependence on the sector by promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities. Appropriate steps will be taken to protect the social infrastructure against climate change and prioritize gender, disability, and the needs of the children and elderly in disaster management and in climate action.