The Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change, which is co-chaired by Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar and Minister of Energy Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein, announced that Brunei Darussalam submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) yesterday.
Brunei Darussalam’s NDC aims to reduce 20 per cent of the total national global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to the business-as-usual levels, by 2030.
Brunei Darussalam ratified the Paris Agreement on September 21, 2016, in support of the global call for climate action. It is among the least contributors to the global GHG emissions in 2018, at 0.025 per cent.
However, as a small nation with development along the coastline, the nation’s vulnerability and exposure to the adverse impacts of climate change grows as climate risks intensify.
In this regard, Brunei Darussalam is committed to playing its part in the global effort to combat climate change.
As the sultanate strives for sustainable economic development through rapid expansion of the industrial sector in the coming years, the national GHG emissions are expected to increase to 29.5 Mt CO2e. However, with mitigation measures identified in the NDC, the expected increase can be reduced by 20 per cent, by 2030.
The mitigation measures are based on the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) strategies that aim at reducing GHG emissions, namely Strategy 1 on Industrial Emissions, Strategy 2 on Forest Cover, Strategy 3 on Electric Vehicles, Strategy 4 on Renewable Energy, Strategy 5 on Power Management, Strategy 6 on Carbon Pricing, Strategy 7 on Waste Management, and Strategy 9 on Carbon Inventory.
The NDC also touched upon the BNCCP’s Strategy 8 on Climate Resilience and Adaptation, which sets out Brunei Darussalam’s plans to increase the nation’s capability to adapt to the changing climate and in seeking climate resilience.
The NDC further highlighted the importance of Strategy 10 on Awareness and Education on both climate mitigation and adaptation, particularly youth participation in climate action.
The NDC rides on the BNCCP goal, which is to transition the country into a low carbon and climate-resilient nation.
The transition presents the country with green growth opportunities that will spur the development of a new ‘green industry’ in Brunei Darussalam, including new green investment, entrepreneurships, services, and most importantly, new green local employment.
The Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change, championed by the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, and Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, will continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring that these climate action strategies will be effectively implemented and closely monitored.
Brunei Darussalam’s NDC showcases the country’s strong commitment to address climate change at a national level, and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement, despite being a predominantly oil and gas economy. This further reflects the country’s leadership in climate action regionally as the ASEAN Chair 2021.
On behalf of the Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change, the Minister of Development and the Minister of Energy, as Co-Chairs of the Council, is calling on key stakeholders, including members of the public and youths in particular, to be part of the effort to transition Brunei Darussalam into a low carbon and climate-resilient nation.
The year 2021 signifies the ‘Year of Climate Action’ for Brunei Darussalam, as it marks the implementation of both the BNCCP and the NDC.