Samoa’s second nationally determined contribution

Abstract

Samoa is an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, that is made up of nine (9) volcanic islands –two of which are Savai’i and Upolu. Upolu is the most populated where the capital city Apia is located, and Savai’i is the largest of the nine. Samoa is extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts due to its geographic location, status as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Pacific, and the importance of natural resources to its main economic sectors of fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. Samoa is only responsible for an insignificant proportion of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Despite this, Samoa is keen to play its part in global climate change mitigation efforts. Samoa is experiencing higher average temperatures, greater frequency in extreme daily rainfall events, and sea level rise1, as well as increases in ocean acidification and coastal erosion2. Changing weather patterns and natural disasters are impacting Samoa’s settlements, as 70 percent of the population and infrastructure are located in low-lying coastal areas.3 Climate change and variable weather patterns are also impacting the country’s primary industries, such as agriculture and fishing. Predicted increases in extreme weather conditions from climate change indicates that Samoa will face even greater impacts in the future, in addition to living with the constant threat of earthquakes and tsunamis. These impacts, combined with the recent economic shock caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, are making the Government’s poverty alleviation and national development goals more challenging. According to Samoa’s Second National Communication (SNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention Climate Change (UNFCCC), Samoa emitted a total of 352.03 Gg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in 2007. The energy sector accounted for 50 percent of this total, the agriculture forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector accounted for 38 percent, the waste sector accounted for 9 percent, and the industrial processes and product use (IPPU) sector accounted for 3 percent. As a leader in climate action and committing to the urgency of the Paris Agreement, Samoa has developed its Second NDC undertaking an inclusive stakeholder engagement process with key national stakeholders, ministries, and departments, with the technical assistance and support of the Regional Pacific NDC Hub and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in collaboration with the strategic advisory firm Castalia. Considering its negligible GHG emissions and limited resources, as well as the ongoing disruption and uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Samoa’s Second NDC is ambitious and reflects the urgency of the Paris Agreement.