Climate vulnerable nations aren’t waiting for help

As US President Donald Trump reduces international climate commitments, smaller nations are demonstrating their determination not to let the battle against global warming falter.
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During an interview on a Zero podcast, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated, "Hope is a condition that we choose." She emphasized that resilience supports hope, which is why they are actively working on cutting emissions and adapting to climate change. Speaking at a conference hosted by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), a UN-backed organization, Mottley announced that Barbados has developed a roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035.
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This goal is ambitious, especially considering that this year only about 15% of the country's electricity will come from renewable sources. While oil extraction is declining, Barbados still has active wells producing around 1,000 barrels per day. Germany has set a net-zero target of 2045, raising the question of how Barbados plans to reach net-zero sooner. Mottley's strategy is supported by an "energy transition and investment plan" crafted with expert assistance from SEforAll. The process took nearly two years, beginning with assessing Barbados's current and future energy needs and modeling how available technologies could enable a shift to carbon-free energy with an estimated transition cost of approximately $10 billion. The modeling indicated that while Barbados had aimed for net-zero by 2030, this was not economically feasible with current technologies. However, a target of net-zero by 2035 is "technically viable," according to Kanika Chawla, SEforAll's chief of staff, but it will require significant government effort and sufficient financing. Barbados is also pioneering the use of innovative financial instruments to secure necessary funding. At the conference, Mottley announced the successful closure of $110 million in financing for a water reclamation facility, enhancing the nation's resilience against extreme weather events. SEforAll has been collaborating with various governments globally to create realistic climate strategies. Their modeling has helped Nigeria set a net-zero target for 2060, Ghana advance its goal from 2070 to 2060, and Kenya revise its national energy policy. Such well-supported plans can attract essential financing. SEforAll indicates that Nigeria has secured over $3.5 billion from development banks and related organizations, aiming to leverage this through matching private sector investments. On a larger scale, the NDC Partnership, another UN initiative, assists developing countries in formulating their national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These contributions help track whether global efforts align with the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement. Although NDC commitments are voluntary, countries are encouraged to establish credible targets, which can inform government policies and private investments. The NDC Partnership is supported by the World Resources Institute, a nonprofit organization.

Despite their commitment, many developing countries struggle with the expertise required to formulate climate goals and the policies necessary to achieve them. The NDC Partnership, co-chaired by Brazil, which will host COP30, is working with over 70 countries to assist in developing climate plans. At COP30, the primary objective is to secure ambitious national climate plans with targets focused on 2035, signaling global progress in addressing climate change, even as the US exits the Paris Agreement. Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, remarked, "We have 198 parties under the Paris Agreement. One has chosen to leave, but 197 remain committed to the multilateral agreement."

Bloomberg

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