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E-Mobility Policy Working Group: Advancing Sustainable Transportation in Ghana

As part of its NDCs, Ghana aims to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector through the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are an increasingly popular and energy-efficient transportation technology, their widespread uptake to replace the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) is now widely seen as inevitable. Recognizing these benefits, the Government of Ghana aims to transition to a net-zero emission transport sector by developing and implementing several policy measures and initiatives.

In collaboration with the Ghanian Environmental Protection Agency and the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES) at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), UNEP and its partner National Technical Institution (NTI) organized a high-level stakeholder workshop in Accra. The purpose was to present the outcomes of the NDC Action Project, with a focus on launching a strategy to boost the market for solar powered irrigation systems (SPIS) in Ghana including an investment plan and the concept note for financing.

Last week, the NDC Action project validation workshop in Uganda brought together high-level stakeholders to discuss the implementation of Uganda’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Key presentations highlighted the integration of results of the NDC Action project, including innovative climate technologies, such as solar irrigation, picture-based insurance and e-cooking, as well as the development of a blended finance tool to support Uganda’s low-carbon development goals.

A training session aimed at empowering champion farmers with smartphone technology concluded successfully during the week of April 22nd to 26th. The training, which saw a robust attendance of 213 participants, focused on teaching farmers how to use the Picture Based Insurance (PBI) application on their smartphones. This initiative is part of a broader effort to raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of insurance, particularly against climate risks.

The NDC Action project in Ghana through its National Technical Institution, the Regional Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (RCEES), hosted by the University for Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), kicked off a two-week technical and financial training on Solar Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) for key stakeholders including smallholder farmers from Monday 12^th- Wednesday 21^st February 2024.

With its enduring commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement, Morocco has played a pivotal role in the formation and expansion of the NDC Partnership. Dating back to 2016 at COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, alongside Germany, spearheaded the establishment of the NDC Partnership—an international and neutral coalition dedicated to assisting countries in fulfilling their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlined in the Paris Agreement.

From NDC to the National Low Carbon Strategy 2050

Presentation made by Ms. Rym Belhaj during the UNEP side event at COP 28 - Catalyzing NDC Investment: From Ambition to Action

During COP 28, Morocco launched its National Low Carbon Strategy 2050, also referred to as Morocco's "quantitative" LT-LEDS, with the aim of achieving a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

The NDC Action Project, in collaboration with the Government of Uganda, Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise Ltd.  (ACRE) Africa, Agro Consortium (U) Limited (AIC), the Banana Industrial Research and Development Centre (BIRDC) hosted a side event at COP28 focused on innovative insurance products tailored for smallholder banana farmers.

The Banana Industrial Research Development Centre (BIRDC), Agro Consortium, and Acre Africa jointly unveiled a Hybrid Index Insurance Solution in Uganda, made possible through the Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator. This one-year pilot initiative is an outcome of the NDC Action project and aims to enhance resilience and facilitate climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in the Bushenyi and Sheema districts.

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre co-hosted a hybrid international workshop in Kampala, Uganda, alongside Last Mile Climate on the 8 November 2023.

The all-day session was opened by Hon. Beatrice Atim Anywar, Minister of State for Environment for Uganda and attended by more than 150 people; half in-person and half virtually.

The workshop highlighted trailblazing initiatives on transitioning households to solar e-cooking, transforming waste into green jobs, and reforestation projects through innovative financing.

UNEP and its partner organizations, UNEP-CCC and BASE, embarked on a mission to Ghana from 22nd to 26th of May 2023 as part of the NDC Action project. The goal of the mission was to carry out stakeholder consultation sessions, hold bilateral meetings with stakeholders to gather relevant information, and raise interest to engage them in the program going forward.

The overall objectives of the 3-day working session were two-fold 1) for key actors to share information on plans related to a national Blended Finance Mechanism for solar irrigation systems, solar dryers and agroforestry in Uganda; 2) to agree on how to collaborate and consolidate technical resources and proposals for impact, where the NDC Action Project can both convene and lead multi-stakeholder efforts.

The three days were structured as follows:

At the Ghana Pavilion of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, the NDC Action Project, in cooperation of the Ghanian government, organised a panel titled Partnerships and Strategies for Investing in Innovation Low-carbon Technologies: A Focus on Ghana’s Plans for Urban Electric Buses.

The event, attended by government entities, financial institutions, civil society and other actors, provided an insight into Ghana’s plans on e-mobility, fleet renewal, and public transport reforms.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Adaptation Gap Report, the estimated costs to adapt in developing countries are five to ten times greater than current public adaptation finance flows.

In other words, there is an urgent need to boost climate adaptation finance and integrate climate change impacts across business models. This requires consistent awareness across sectors and a willingness to address the issue.

UNEP DTU Partnership built capacity for climate action finance, introducing tools for NDC implementation.

This month, UNEP DTU Partnership invited Moroccan practitioners from the government, service provider and NGOs to a two-day workshop building capacity for climate action.