Vanuatu Partners with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Prioritise Action on Super Pollutants

Vanuatu, alongside other Pacific States, is particularly exposed to climate change and yet contributes minutely to global emissions. Fast cuts to super pollutants offer a key pathway to avoid up to 0.6C of global warming and are the only way to keep 1.5C within reach, potentially reducing the rate of sea-level rise by approximately 20% by 2050.  

To kick off their partnership, the Government of Vanuatu and the CCAC held a workshop in Port Vila, Vanuatu, focused on identifying immediate priorities across a variety of sectors, including agriculture and fisheries, waste management, infrastructure, energy, and health, to take action on super pollutants and catalyze funding for climate and clean air initiatives.  

23 July, 2024 – With super pollutants contributing to global warming and leading to devastating impacts on both the planet and human health, particularly in climate-exposed and low-emitting island nations, the Government of Vanuatu has partnered with the CCAC to fast-track action to cut harmful pollutants and develop plans and projects on climate and clean air.  

As a new member of the CCAC and signatory to the Global Methane Pledge (GMP), for which the CCAC provides secretariat services, the Government of Vanuatu is eligible for support for action on super pollutants and clean air. The Coalition supports diverse projects and initiatives to enable action that delivers quick benefits across climate, air quality, development, and health.

A first cross-governmental workshop in Porta Vila, Vanuatu focused on “coordinating cross-sectoral interest in climate and clean air finance”. Participants from several ministries identified a set of country-specific priority areas in which quick actions could be taken to reduce super pollutants, including in waste management, agriculture and fisheries, infrastructure, and energy.

Speaking at the workshop, Vanuatu Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meterology and Geo Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, Hon. Minister Ralph Regenvanu, underscored the importance of integrated action on climate and clean air. “Rapid reduction of super pollutants provides the one of the best paths to avoiding the worst of the climate crisis, contributing to cleaner air, healthier outcomes for our communities, and offering a lifeline to low-lying states like Vanuatu who are on the frontlines in the battle against climate change.”  

Reducing super pollutants also has measurable benefits for community resilience, such as by tangibly reducing air pollution, reducing impacts on agricultural production, improving waste management, and increasing energy efficiency of vehicles and cooling systems.  

“We are pleased to partner with the Government of Vanuatu, who have long been ardent champions and advocates for climate action”, said Martina Otto, Head of the CCAC Secretariat. “This important workshop will help guide priority actions and identify ready-to-implement projects across Vanuatu, while demonstrating to the world that every action counts when it comes to taking action on super pollutants to help reduce the risk of sea level rise.”

Following this initial session, the Government of Vanuatu and the CCAC committed to build on the priorities identified over the coming weeks, culminating in an in-person workshop in late August that will set a clear path forward to implement action on super pollutants.  

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NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)  

The UNEP-Convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a partnership of over 182 governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. It works to reduce powerful but short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and tropospheric ozone – that drive both climate change and air pollution. It aims to connect ambitious agenda setting with targeted mitigation action within countries and sectors. Robust science and analysis underpin its efforts and bolstered by its Trust Fund, it has given rise to high level political commitment, in-country support, and a range of tools that help make the case for action and support implementation.

For more information, please contact:

Vincent Hughes, Communications and Media Consultant, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Vincent.Hughes [at] un.org (Vincent[dot]Hughes[at]un[dot]org)

Ava Bahrami, Communications Officer, Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat at United Nations Environment Programme – Ava.Bahrami [at] un.org (Ava[dot]Bahrami[at]un[dot]org)