Fiji - Reducing methane emissions from the agriculture

Rationale

This initiative directly aligns with Fiji's expressed commitment to reducing methane emissions as part of its broader climate action strategy. Having endorsed the Global Methane Pledge at COP 26, Fiji has demonstrated a clear recognition of the significant role methane plays in accelerating climate change and the need for urgent mitigation measures.

Fiji's active participation in climate initiatives and its focus on the agriculture sector, a major source of methane emissions, highlights the country's dedication to developing sustainable solutions. Through projects like the “Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT Phase 1) Fiji Project,” Fiji is building the national capacity to establish robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, particularly for livestock emissions, and is integrating these efforts into its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Building upon this foundation, Fiji has specifically requested expert support to strengthen its methane reduction efforts, particularly within the agriculture sector. This project aims to assist Fiji in further developing a comprehensive approach to methane emissions mitigation, contributing to the country’s NDC revision and its long-term climate goals. The initiative will focus on providing technical expertise to enhance Fiji’s capacity to monitor and reduce methane emissions, while supporting the country’s broader efforts to achieve climate justice and build resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Objectives

• To support the Government of Fiji in incorporating short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) mitigation actions and/or targets for the agriculture sector in its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) by 2025.

• To enhance Fiji's capacity to achieve the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) goal and national methane mitigation ambitions by improving the accuracy, consistency, and coverage of data on agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

• To increase national capacity and implementation actions for developing a robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system for the agriculture sector, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Climate Change Division, through the management and coordination of the Fiji Project and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) livestock inventory project.

• To ensure the successful delivery of all activities aimed at emissions reduction in Fiji’s agriculture sector, including the implementation of the agricultural component of the Fiji CBIT project and support for ACIAR project implementation.

• To develop guidelines/terms of reference for enhancing the accuracy, consistency, and coverage of data for agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and emissions reduction activities.

• To assist the Government of Fiji in submitting at least 1-2 funding proposals for CCAC or non-CCAC funding consideration.

Activities

To achieve these objectives, the project will:

• Support the participation and buy-in from key government stakeholders, particularly from the Climate Change Division of the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture, to implement mitigation activities in the agriculture sector. This will include high-level political endorsement for the 2025 NDC revision process.

• Assist in preparing a comprehensive list of recommendations for agricultural mitigation actions to be incorporated into Fiji’s revised NDC for 2025, ensuring alignment with national and international climate goals.

• Provide training for national stakeholders to enhance capacity for robust data collection in the agriculture sector. This will involve defining data inputs, developing a matrix for data collection, identifying gaps, and proposing protocols to gather relevant data for methane emissions and other climate indicators.

• Develop guidelines and terms of reference to improve the accuracy, consistency, and coverage of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions data, ensuring better reporting and decision-making.

• Strengthen Fiji's long-term institutional and technical capacity to implement methane mitigation measures by providing the necessary tools and training to support these efforts over time.

Project Reference: [FJ-23-001t] Fiji - Reducing methane emissions from the agriculture