WEC Background:

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NDC Partnership:

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).The NDC Partnership works in close collaboration with the Pacific Regional NDC Hub.

Country Context

Fiji is a member of the NDC Partnership and as part of Paris Agreement, Fiji has submitted its first Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2015 committing to reduce its Green House Gas emissions (GHG) by 30% by 2030 with major focus in energy sector. Building on to the target, Fiji’s NDC Implementation Roadmap in 2017 focuses on electricity and transportation sector. Fiji's NDCs are based on the energy sector and the Roadmap focuses on three energy subsectors and highlights short (2018-2020), medium (2021-2025) and long (2026-2030) term actions required in these subsectors to achieve the 30 % emissions reduction target.

Fiji submitted an updated NDC in 2020. The updated NDC confirmed Fiji’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050 while reaffirming to achieve 30% Business as Usual (BAU) emissions reduction from a Business as Usual (BAU) scenario. Of the 30% reduction of BAU baseline carbon dioxide emissions, Fiji envisions to achieve 10% emission reductions which will be achieved "unconditionally” using available resources in the country and 20% achieved "conditionally "and further committed to reduce domestic maritime shipping emissions by 40% . It also aims to derive 100% of national electricity production from renewable energy sources by 2030.

Fiji has published its NDC Investment Plan in 2022 that entails program pipelines for the transport (land, maritime, and aviation) and energy efficiency sectors. The NDC Investment Plan identifies options for low carbon development and possible financing options. Based on these options, the most promising investment opportunities will be further developed into a project pipeline of concept notes. This plan is our bridge between climate policy-makers and investors, providing all multilateral and bilateral partners and private sector stakeholders the clear, confidence-boosting signal they need to invest in Fiji in support of our transition towards a low carbon economy consistent with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree guardrail.

Fiji is in the process of developing its NDC3.0, with the intention of submission by end of 2025. Fiji is also preparing for next steps after submission, including planning for the development of a Costed Implementation Plan.