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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
</head>
<body>
<h1>Antigua and Barbuda's NDC</h1>
<h1>ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA</h1>
<p>UPDATED NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION</p>
<p>For the period 2020 – 2030</p>
<p>Communicated to the UNFCCC on 2nd September 2021</p>
<p>This NDC submission has been produced by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s, Department of Environment Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment with the support of the Cabinet and other government entities, NGOs, community groups, and the private sector. (Image courtesy of the Department of Environment)</p>
<h3>List of Acronyms</h3>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<p>ACE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Action for Climate Empowerment</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>AF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Adaptation Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>AFOLU</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>APUA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Antigua Public Utilities Authority</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>CAEP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Climate Action Enhancement Package initiative</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>CARICOM</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Caribbean Community</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>CBIT</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>CCMRV</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Caribbean Cooperation Monitoring Reporting and Verification Hub</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>CRDF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Climate Resilience and Development Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>DOE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Department of Environment</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EbA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Ecosystem-based adaptation</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EDP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Entrepreneurs Development Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Energy Efficiency</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>ECCB</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Eastern Caribbean Central Bank</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>ECSE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EIMAS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Environmental Information Management and Advisory Systems</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EPMA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Environmental Protection Management Plan</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EDA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Enhanced Direct Access</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>EV</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Electric vehicles</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GARD</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Centre</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GCF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Green Climate Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GDP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Gross Domestic Product</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GEF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Global Environmental Facility</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GESI</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Gender Equality and Social Inclusion</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GGA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Global Goal on Adaptation</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GGGI</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Global Green Growth Institute</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GHG</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Greenhouse gas emissions</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GIS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Geographic Information Systems</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>GOAB</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Government of Antigua and Barbuda</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>IAS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Invasive Alien Species</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>ICE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Internal combustion engine</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>ILO</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>International Labour Organisation</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>INDC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Intended Nationally Determined Contributions</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<p>IPCC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>IRENA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>International Renewable Energy Agency</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>LAP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Local Area Planning</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>MEAs</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Multilateral Environmental Agreements</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Micro-IPPs</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Micro-independent power producers</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>MTDS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Medium-Term Development Strategy</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>M/SME</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Micro and Small to Medium Sized Enterprise</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>MOF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Ministry of Finance</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>MRV</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Monitoring Verification and Reporting</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>NAP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>National Adaptation Plan</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>NEIS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>National Environmental Data Information System</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>NDC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Nationally Determined Contribution</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>NDCP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Nationally Determined Contributions Partnership</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>NGOs</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Nongovernmental Organisations</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>OECS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>PV</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Photovoltaic</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>RE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Renewable Energy</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SDGs</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Sustainable Development Goals</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SIDS</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Small Island Developing States</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SIRF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Sustainable Island Resource Framework Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SIRMZP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Sustainable Island Resource Management and Zoning Plan</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SLIM</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda Sustainable Low-emission Island Mobility</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>SLM</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Sustainable land management</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>TAC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Technical Advisory Committee</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>TAPs</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Technology Action Plans</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>TNA</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Technology Needs Assessments</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UNDP</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>United Nations Development Programme</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UNEP-DTU</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>United Nations Environment Programme DTU Partnership</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UNFCCC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UNICEF</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UWI</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>University of West Indies</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>WTE</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Waste to energy</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>WIOC</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>West Indies Oil Company</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3>Acknowledgments</h3>
<p>The development of Antigua and Barbuda’s 2021 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) was led by the Department of Environment (DOE) based within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment and in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and over 15 other government entities. The DOE as well as the respective government entities consulted with NGOs, community groups and the private sector.</p>
<p>The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GoAB) would like to gratefully acknowledge the generous support received from the NDC Partnership through its Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) initiative to update Antigua and Barbuda’s NDC. Special thanks to our implementing partners Climate Analytics, the Global Green Growth Institute, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Regional Collaboration Centre, the Caribbean Cooperative MRV Hub, OECS Commission, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNECLAC (United National Economic Commission) Trinidad Office, and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for the technical assistance provided in the production of key studies, technical papers, policy papers, as well as support given in the conduct of consultations. The NDC also benefited from the reviews and comments of these implementing partners as well as local and international experts.</p>
<p>Special thanks to The Honourable Molwyn Joseph, Minister for Health, Wellness and the Environment, for his unwavering commitment to advance this ambitious climate change agenda, while Antigua and Barbuda faced an outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>Significant contributions to the process were made by a wide-cross section of stakeholders from the public and private sector, civil society, trade and industry groups and training institutions, who attended NDC-related workshops, consultations and participated in key stakeholder interviews organized to inform the NDC update.</p>
<p>Thanks to the DOE's Project Management Unit and the commitment of its interns and apprentices, who worked tirelessly to collect much needed baseline data and to find alternative ways of engaging with stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>
<h3>Message from the Honourable Gaston Browne</h3>
<p>Prime Minister & Minister of Finance, Corporate Governance & Public Private Partnerships</p>
<p>As a Party to the Paris Agreement, Antigua and Barbuda has committed itself to pursuing the global goal of holding global average temperature to well below 2°C and focusing efforts to limit the rise to 1.5°C. To address this challenge, our country is taking bold steps to update and implement its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Our main actions are focused within the transition away from imported energy to grow a new nationally sourced energy sector based on hybrid systems of wind, solar, batteries, LNG, LPG and eventually hydrogen. The aim is to build physical and financial resilience across our entire economy through economic growth in the energy sector.</p>
<p>To accelerate the energy transition, our country will grow a new energy sector that puts focus on local generation of energy using an abundance of wind and solar to replace 86% of fossil fuel imports by 2030. The transition to a new energy sector is a long-term process that requires changes on many levels and will be accompanied with adequate policies to ensure sustainable and socially inclusive growth for all citizens, particularly women.</p>
<p>We remain committed to increasing our ambition to cut emissions, scale up renewable energy, support a socially inclusive energy transition and a just transition of our workforce. We are advancing efforts to build a national climate resilient insurance scheme to increase protection of home and business owners, farmers, and fishers.</p>
<p>Our country is confronted with more frequent and intense tropical storms and hurricanes and is prone to droughts, intense floods, rising air temperatures, decreased annual rainfall and sea level rise. Its economic vulnerability has increased following every extreme weather event— such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 that was nothing short of devasting and hit us at our core. An estimated 80.4% of our country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is at risk due to economic and natural disaster shocks.</p>
<p>Under pressure to recover, we have had to divert critical financing away from meeting development challenges to climate change loss and damage response programmes. The harmful effects of climate change are indeed growing, and inaction will cost human lives and livelihoods.</p>
<p>In our NDC, Antigua and Barbuda was careful to include into our targets regional hopes and plans in an effort to recognize that we want to work with our OECS colleagues to face the threat of climate change together.</p>
<p>The implementation of our NDC will be designed to support the creation of new jobs, stimulate new investments in renewable energy and the development of green business opportunities. For the transition to be successful, no one must be left behind, especially disadvantaged, and vulnerable groups. While my government recognizes the importance to transition to a low-carbon economy, such a shift should not be at the detriment of our people, their wellbeing, their livelihoods, and their way of life.</p>
<h3>Message from the Honourable Sir Molwyn M. Joseph</h3>
<p>Minister of Health, Wellness & The Environment</p>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda like other small island developing states (SIDS) are forced to endure the impacts of a climate crisis, not of our own making. Given this climate challenge, as part of our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), we are preparing to develop a robust national energy system powered by natural energy resources such as solar and wind. Delaying transformation of our energy system and other climate actions will only serve to worsen Antigua and Barbuda’s vulnerability and exposure to climate-related risks.</p>
<p>Pursuing an energy transition, undoubtedly presents a myriad of opportunities as well as challenges for the most vulnerable in society, particularly, as it relates to accessing and affording energy. Currently, our communities, households and businesses are hard hit by rising energy costs.</p>
<p>We also acknowledge that vulnerable groups are an integral part of the low-carbon transition. To ensure participation, they will be introduced to social inclusion and investment opportunities that promote the economic benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency options. The challenges faced by these groups are varied and tend to be exacerbated by climate change and its negative impacts.</p>
<p>A key priority is removing barriers that inhibit female-headed households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from accessing back-up renewable energy generation and storage systems to support their post-extreme weather event recovery. To allow households in vulnerable communities to better cope with the financial impacts of climate change, they will be introduced to micro-financing programmes to facilitate their access to affordable renewable energy products and services.</p>
<p>A just transition of the workforce by 2030 remains at the heart of our transition policies. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GoAB), led by the Honourable Gaston Browne, envisions the creation of new skillsets and enhancement of capabilities to strengthen this effort. Our ambitious plans to increase renewable energy generation will require us to expand workers’ renewable energy capacity within the next decade.</p>
<p>Apprenticeship programmes targeting individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds will help prepare a new workforce for a net-zero future. New entrants to the labour market and current workers will be trained and re-trained to operate and maintain renewable energy technologies; and adopt new standards and practices.</p>
<p>To cope with such transformational shifts, businesses will need to adapt their models and ready their operations for change. Our climate action plans are focused on building the entrepreneurial capacity of women, youth, and MSMEs. We will work to stimulate growth in green businesses that implement renewable energy and adaptation interventions.</p>
<p>In collaboration with key government entities, civil society, and the private sector along with supporting legislative frameworks and much needed climate finance a lot of this work and the change that we seek can be realized.</p>
<h2>ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA</h2>
<p>UPDATED NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION (NDC)</p>
<p>for the period of 2020 - 2030 Communicated to the UNFCCC on 2nd September 2021</p>
<p>This submission communicates Antigua and Barbuda’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the global response to climate change (NDC) in line with the <i>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992</i> and its <i>Paris Agreement 2015</i>.</p>
<h3>1. Background</h3>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda, as a Party to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992 (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement 2015, submitted its first Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC)<a href="#fn1" class="footnoteRef" id="fnref1"><sup>1</sup></a> in October 2015. The INDC subsequently became a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and Antigua and Barbuda ratified the <i>Paris Agreement on Climate Change</i> in December 2016. Pursuant to Article 4 of the <i>Paris Agreement</i>, and in an effort towards contributing to limiting the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Antigua and Barbuda hereby submits its updated NDC. This NDC will cover the period 2020 to 2030 and it includes targets for mitigation and adaptation as well as targets that are designed to:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>Reduce transitional risks,</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support vulnerable groups, including women, the elderly and people living with disabilities</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support an inclusive, gender responsive approach to the energy transition with special focus on women fully participating in the new economy and providing support for men working within the power and transportation sectors as the transition advances,</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Support youth fully with a gender responsive approach for girls and boys of all income levels in meeting the new challenges and opportunities that this process can provide; and</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Provide investment and business opportunities for local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and businesses in the informal sector.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p>As agreed in Decision 1 CP/20 para 11, “Small island developing states may communicate information on strategies, plans and actions for low greenhouse gas emission development reflecting their special circumstances in the context of intended nationally determined contributions.” The NDC targets represent a significant increase in scope and ambition compared to the INDC, specifically, in mitigation ambition and adaptation, with supporting actions in the areas of loss and damage response, gender responsive approaches in access to finance, and the just transition of the workforce.</p>
<h3>2. Summary of the NDC</h3>
<p>The NDC targets included in this submission are based on the 1.5°C mitigation goal and adaptation goals that assume a 3.4°C increase in global temperatures (based on projections from the assessments of the INDCs). The targets are aligned with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s (GoAB) goal of net-zero by 2040. These targets are intended to be met by using relevant technologies, policies such as land use planning and updated building codes, with financial instruments such as catastrophic insurance instruments for extreme weather events. The targets are set to be conditional, or unconditional based on information and assumptions available about technology costs as well as transitional risks. Considering the climate impacts over the first five years of the INDC, the next 10 years may result in over 0.5 billion of climate damage in the country. The approach is, therefore, an urgency to become resilient as fast as possible to reduce the cost of these impacts and reduce the transitional risks related to climate change.</p>
<p>This updated NDC is an update of the 2015 INDC and does not replace the previously communicated targets as set out in the INDC. Rather, the updated NDC maintains targets not met and updated some targets to reflect more ambition. The INDC was a 10-year document and is still relevant as all targets were not achieved. This NDC is building on the achievements of the last five years and new information on marked decreases in technology cost, which has allowed more ambition for some targets.</p>
<p>This NDC has its strategy and approaches aligned with the developmental priorities of the country and where appropriate, examined a sector coupling approach for the energy and agricultural sectors, energy and resilience building, Energy and Transportation and decoupling of energy for economic growth. If successful, this approach should reduce the overall cost of mitigation and adaptation projects, while reducing the importation of fossil fuel and concentrating on the abundant solar and wind energy resources. This approach also recognizes the transitional risks that may result from implementing an inclusive energy transition, considering that the roles and hopes of men, women and youth are different; thus, the process should ensure differences are respected and supported to ensure that no one is left behind.</p>
<p>The NDC further considers the financial challenges as well as transitional risks expected during the implementation phase. The NDC recognizes the need for gender responsive approaches, and a just transition of the workforce. It notes immense challenges, concerns, and uncertainty, but also offers opportunities for new businesses for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.</p>
<h3>3. Methods of NDC Preparation</h3>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda began its NDC revision process in 2019. The process was led by the UNFCCC focal point, the Department of Environment (DOE), based within the Ministry responsible for the Environment and with the support of the Ministry of Finance. The process was</p>
<p>supported by NDC Partnership's Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP) initiative, the United Nations Development Programme’s Climate Promise initiative, IRENA’s Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Lighthouses Initiative, Green Climate Fund’s Readiness (4) Project, and the 4th National Communications Project. The DOE led the execution of several technical studies in the areas of energy, gender, just transition and socially inclusive transition. These studies built upon existing national and strategic priorities to inform the final targets as well as the collection of primary data from over 1,700 participants to support emerging views and opportunities for a strategic approach for the implementation of the targets. The NDC revision process was inclusive and included a whole-of-society, and whole of government approach to the extent permitted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The process engaged the public sector, private sector, and civil society through meetings, focus groups, workshops, stakeholder interviews, public awareness campaigns, household surveys, business surveys and online consultations.</p>
<p>The NDC targets are aligned with significant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the co-benefits have been identified. The NDC is fully supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs, with the aim to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all, beginning with eradicating poverty (SDG1) in line with the “leaving no one behind” principle.</p>
<p>Students viewing an electric vehicle on display at the Department of Environment.</p>
<p>Image courtesy of the Department of Environment</p>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda’s 2021 update to the first Nationally Determined Contribution</p>
<h3>4. Areas of Additional Targets Since INDC</h3>
<h4>4.1 Gender</h4>
<p>Addressing the gender dimension of climate change is a priority in Antigua and Barbuda due to the gender differentiated impacts and vulnerabilities experienced by women and men associated to climate change and their gender differentiated contributions to mitigation and adaptation actions and climate resilience. The GoAB has conducted baseline gender assessments to identify multiple cases of vulnerability to climate change among men and women as well as identifying the differential adaptive capacity to climate change. The overall outcome is to ensure that projects and programmes are gender responsive: meaning that it aims to go beyond gender sensitivity to actively promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.</p>
<p>The country is committed to achieving SDG 5: Gender equality by promoting low carbon development where men and women contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation are recognized and valued, existing gender inequalities are reduced and opportunities for effective empowerment for women are promoted.</p>
<p>To achieve this objective, Antigua and Barbuda will recognize and integrate the different and complementary roles of men and women into policies and strategies on climate change and will ensure that the implementation of the NDC will be gender responsive. This approach will ensure that the NDC implementation a) recognizes and acknowledges gender norms and inequalities and responds to them by creating actions, policies, and initiatives to address the different needs, constraints, and opportunities of women and men and b) ensures that women and men's differential needs are addressed; that participation of women and men is equitable; and that distribution of benefits, resources, status, and rights are equitably attended.</p>
<p>As links between climate impacts, energy access and gender are critical, therefore, Antigua and Barbuda recognizes the gendered aspect of energy poverty and how it disproportionately affects women and girls. Antigua and Barbuda will mainstream gender in its energy planning through an Inclusive Renewable Energy Strategy. This strategy will recognize and acknowledge, among other things, the gender norms, and inequalities prevalent in the energy sector, women and men’s differentiated access to energy, their different energy needs and preferences, and different impacts that energy access could have on their livelihoods. Antigua and Barbuda’s plan for an inclusive renewable energy transition will ensure continued affordable and reliable access to electricity and other energy services for all. This is in line with the gender responsive targets for mitigation, adaptation and just transition sections:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<p>100% of female-headed households have all barriers removed to access back-up renewable energy generation and storage systems (i.e., 20,000 homes), 20% increase in the number of women-led businesses implementing renewable energy and adaptation interventions;</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>100% of community businesses and organizations that support women in their post-extreme weather event recovery are identified and provided with support for their efforts to facilitate women’s ability to resume work/livelihoods; and</p>
</li>
<li>
<p>Develop a gender-responsive approach to the just transition of men in the energy and construction sectors (Baseline: currently approximately 95% men in these sectors)</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>4.2 Children and Youth</h4>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda is developing a National Youth Policy that will place focus on youth development and promote their involvement in environmental issues. The country will continue its promotion of environmental education to support the delivery of its climate change ambitions.</p>
<p>The country’s UNFCCC Focal Point is further undertaking the development of a Youth Engagement Strategy and Action Plan that will be designed in line with the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) commitments, to facilitate the involvement of children and youth, including the most vulnerable. The Strategy and Action Plan will serve as the framework for youth engagement as part of the GoAB’s Climate Change Programme and will primarily support the engagement of youth in adaptation and mitigation initiatives. It will also equip them with the skills needed to be part of an expansion of social inclusion opportunities. This will be linked to inclusive investment opportunities in renewable energy and the new project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) - <i>FP133: Resilience to hurricanes in the building sector in Antigua and Barbuda</i>, which aims to generate interest in the field of renewable energies (including among students).</p>
<p>As part of just transition initiatives, the country’s UNFCCC Focal Point is expanding training and skills development programmes in collaboration with training providers to enable the creation of new jobs in the labour force, enhance youth employability and ensure their access to meaningful and decent work.</p>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda is also committed to ensuring that ACE becomes, as per Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, a key cross-cutting instrument to involve all levels of society in climate action, in particular children and youth (as well as other vulnerable groups including women, the elderly and people living with disabilities) in support of all elements of mitigation and adaptation. ACE has the potential to provide the social and political will for action, in addition to the scientific and technological know-how. As such, the country’s ACE commitments, as non-GHG targets, will help accelerate the achievement of the NDC’s GHG related targets.</p>
<h4>4.3 Vulnerable Groups</h4>
<p>Along with gender equity, Antigua and Barbuda recognize that climate change disproportionately impacts the vulnerable groups of the country. Climate change impacts increase financial exclusion and is also a barrier to financial stability. As part of the GoAB’s Inclusive Renewable Energy Strategy, inclusive programmes are proposed that will facilitate the involvement of vulnerable communities in the energy transition and help them build resiliency and mitigate losses that are caused by climate change.</p>
<p>Antigua and Barbuda’s 2021 update to the first Nationally Determined Contribution</p>
<h3>5. NDC Targets</h3>
<p>The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda considered and approved the following targets for Antigua and Barbuda’s NDC. <strong>Note</strong>: These targets are in addition to the 2030 targets set in the INDC.</p>
<p>Table 1: Targets to be achieved by 2030</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Thematic Area</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Target and Actions</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Completion Date</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Year Communicated</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditionality</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="4">
<p>NDC Targets</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Mitigation</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1. 86% renewable energy generation from local resources in the electricity sector</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>2. 100% all <strong>new</strong> vehicle sales to be electric vehicles</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>3. Explore potential for emissions reductions in the waste sector</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2025</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>4. Explore potential for emissions reductions in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td colspan="4">
<p>Indicative actions supporting implementation of mitigation targets</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>1. Energy Sector</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>a) Enhance the established enabling legal, policy and institutional environment for a low carbon emission development pathway to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>None</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Unconditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>b) Establish efficiency standards for the importation of all appliances</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2020</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>c) Dedicated technical and other support aimed at de-risking investments in greenhouse gas reduction by MSMEs in Antigua and Barbuda</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>d) A legal and technical framework is established as an enabling environment to support the raising of necessary resources for the low greenhouse gas emissions, climate resilient transition from international support providers, private sector (community, national, and international levels), and social investors</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2024</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>2. Electricity</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>a) 100 MW of renewable energy generation capacity available to the grid</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td rowspan="3">
<p>2015 (<i>Updated in 2021</i>)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>b) 50 MW of renewable energy generation capacity owned by farmers who can sell electricity to off-takers</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
<p>c) 100 MW of renewable energy generation capacity owned by social investment entities for (<i>for e.g., Social Security Board, Medical Benefit Scheme, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based organization, taxi associations, bus associations, and other businesses registered as social investors)</i></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="14"></td>
<td>
<p>d) 20 MW of wind-powered energy generation</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>e) 100% renewable energy generation for all government operations</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>f) 100% of fixtures and appliances in government buildings will be energy efficient</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>g) Elimination of the fuel surcharge tax on electricity bills</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>h) Finalize the technical studies with the intention to construct and operationalize a waste to energy (WTE) plant</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2025</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>3. Transport</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>a) Change fiscal policies on fossil fuel by 2025 to enable the transition to 100% renewable energy generation in the transportation sector</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2025</p>
</td>
<td rowspan="3">
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td rowspan="3">
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>b) Ban on the importation of new internal combustion engine vehicles (with an indicative start year of 2025)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>c) 100% of government vehicles will be electric vehicles</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2035</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>d) Establish efficiency standards for the importation of all vehicles</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2020</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>4. Waste</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>a) Circular economy policy and regulations agreed on</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2025</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2021</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>5. Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use</p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>a) All remaining wetlands, watershed areas, and seagrass bed areas with carbon sequestration potential are protected as carbon sinks</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2030</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015</p>
<p>(<i>Updated in 2021</i>)</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Conditional</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="5"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="6">
<p>Adaptation<a href="#fn2" class="footnoteRef" id="fnref2"><sup>2</sup></a></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>6.</strong> Building Code updated and passed into law in line with a climate resilient development pathway including, <i>inter alia</i>, a requirement that all <strong>new</strong> homes built after 2025 have back-up renewable energy generation and storage systems</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2025</p>
</td>
<td>
<p>2015 (<i>Updated in 2021</i>)</p>
</td>
<td>