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Ghana's Updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the Unfccc 2021

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Ghana

Updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the

Paris Agreement ( 2020 - 2030 )

September 2021

Source: kasaghana/wp-content/uploads/Northern-Ghana-Picture.jpeg. Gbanu near Nanton in the Nanton District in the Northern Region of Ghana

Inside the front cover is BLANK

91 Starlets Road Energy Close, Ministries PO Box M Ministries-Accra

Disclaimer The comments and opinions contained in this document are those of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and may not reflect the opinions of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) or other external bodies. The EPA and MESTI have compiled this document in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. The EPA does not accept responsibility for any inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by third parties. No representation is made about the accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information in this publication for any purpose.

The EPA/MESTI shall not be liable for any damage which may occur to any person or organisation acting or not based on this publication. The effort has been made to ensure facts and data are correct and up to date where possible at the time of writing and editing. However, it is acknowledged that many of the topics covered in this document are dynamic. Therefore, some information may not reflect the current situation. Use of this document as reference material should be combined with the contact of the appropriate agencies to ensure that the information is accurate and relevant.

This publication should be cited as follows:

MESTI. (2021). Ghana: Updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement (2020 – 2030) Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Accra.

Foreword

Ghana believes that if no rapid action is taken to address climate change and its negative impacts now, the future cost will be prohibitive and counterproductive to the socio-economic gains made today. Therefore, responding to climate change issues is top on the national development agenda. That is why Ghana committed to implementing thirty-one mitigation and adaptation actions across seven economic sectors in its nationally determined contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015.

In line with Article 4 of the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC decisions 1/CP and 4/CMA, Ghana has updated its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement from 2020 to 2030, considering its unique circumstances. The update affirms the country's resolve to address the impacts of climate change on the country's economy and its vulnerable people.

The update covers 19 policy areas and translates into 47 adaptation and mitigation programmes of action. The 47 climate actions are expected to build the resilience of over 38 million people, generate absolute greenhouse gas emission reductions of 64 MtCO 2 e, create over one million jobs, avoid 2,900 deaths due to improved air quality by 2030.

The update of the nationally determined contribution was based on extensive stakeholder consultations with relevant institutions at both national and sub-national levels, with the involvement of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, development partners, private sector, academia and Civil Society Organisations. The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation will work with relevant sector institutions and stakeholders to implement the nationally determined contribution to accelerate our development efforts and enhance the well-being of our people.

It is my cherished hope that the Updated Nationally Determined Contribution will serve as a blueprint for transitioning into a climate-resilient low carbon economy that will accelerate our development efforts and enhance the well-being of our people without sacrificing the quality of the environment and its resources.

Acknowledgement

The preparation of Ghana's revised nationally determined contribution to the UNFCCC has been two years of a great learning experience, collaborations and amazing teamwork. On behalf of the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) wishes to show appreciation and recognise the immense contribution of all those who offered their distinguished service to prepare this report.

The Government appreciate the UNDP and the Donors of NDC Support Programme for funding the entire revision process and the technical inputs. We are particularly very grateful for the enthusiastic partnership with the UNDP. We greatly benefitted from great insight, advice and guidance. We hope that our existing organic partnership will grow in leaps and bounds in implementing the programmes in the nationally determined contribution. It is also worthwhile to extend our gratitude to the following for their immense support to the preparation of Ghana's revised nationally determined contribution:

All state institutions, the private sector, academia, CSOs and the Donor Partners engaged in the process. We truly appreciate the level of dedication and commitment you exhibited.
The Chief Director of MESTI, Executive Director and Management of EPA provide strategic technical guidance and direction in the revision process.
The nationally determined contribution team (at MESTI, EPA, and all the MDAs) is dedicated and supported to the national assignment.
The national experts provided technical inputs and advice to enrich the process and quality of the document.
All the international partners that provided the technical report.

In this regard, we want to recognise contributions we received from the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) Project, EU Delegation, GIZ and the UK Government. Ghana further acknowledges the contribution of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Supporting National Action and Planning on SLCP mitigation (SNAP) initiative and the Stockholm Environment Institute Centre at the University of York for their support regarding the inclusion of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants and air pollution benefits within the revised Nationally Determined Contribution.

Table of content

6 Annexe 1: Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding of Ghana's

1. Introduction
1. Ghana's Updated Nationally Determined Contribution
1. Nationally Determined Contribution and National Development
1. Making the Nationally Determined Contribution Work
- 4 Institutional Support for Ghana's Nationally Determined Contribution
- 4 Financial Needs for Implementing the Revised Nationally Determined Contribution
- 4 Technology and Capacity Needs for the Revised Nationally Determined Contribution
1. National Arrangement for Tracking Nationally Determined Contribution
1. Annexes
- Annex 1 of Decision 4/CMA for 2020 to revised and enhanced nationally determined contribution according to the guidance in
- 6 Annexe 2: Adaptation and Mitigation Contribution Table

Ghana expects that implementing the 19 policy actions will achieve the following by 2030:

Generate absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions of 64 MtCO 2 e.
Avoid at least 2,900 premature deaths per year from improved air quality.
Create over one million 1 decent and green jobs and
Benefit cumulatively nearly 38 million people, with the majority being the youth and women.

The 13 adaptation measures are divided into seven unconditional 2 and six conditional 3 programmes of action. For the 34 mitigation measures, Ghana aims to implement nine unconditional programmes of action that would result in 8 MtCO 2 e GHG reductions by 2025 and a further 24 MtCO 2 e by 2030 compared to the 2020-2030 cumulative emissions in a baseline scenario. Ghana can also adopt additional 25 conditional programmes of action that have the potential to achieve 16 MtCO 2 e by 2025 and 39 MtCO 2 e by 2030 if financial support from the international and private sector is made available to cover the full cost for implementation.

3. Nationally Determined Contribution and National Development

Ghana anticipates that the updated nationally determined contribution will play a key role in achieving the long-term national development objectives for the country and the global sustainable development goals. That is why this updated nationally determined contribution document strongly aligns with the various national and sector policies and is backed by concrete programmes that the Ministries Department and Agencies (MDA), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), private sector, and civil society organisations can implement. The updated and enhanced nationally determined contribution responds to the sustainability priorities in the following national policy documents:

Ghana @ 100 frameworks and the accompanying national Infrastructure plan.
Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policy.
202 2 to 2025 Medium-Term Development Policy Framework.
Ghana Beyond Aid Charter Strategy Document.
COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support

1 Ghana plans to conduct a comprehensive analysis of job potentials and economic diversification opportunities for each of the nationally determined contribution sectors and at the economy-level.

2 Climate measures that the financial resources have been secured to cover the full or partial cost of implementation at the time of publication. It is also including measures that have high socio-economic benefits, aligns with the Government priorities, have received financial commitment, and is cost-effective, for which the Government do not need external support for its implementation.

3 Climate measures that are outside the scope of the unconditional definition, and facing market, regulatory and technological barriers and unlikely to receive Government support to implement them.

4. Making the Nationally Determined Contribution Work

Removing the systematic institutional, policy, and financial barriers is the surest way to make the nationally determined contribution work and positively affect the lives of the vulnerable. It means that the updated nationally determined contribution must fully respond to government policy needs; be coordinated by capable national institutions, and have access to adequate finance and technology from the international and private sectors.

4 Institutional Support for Ghana's Nationally Determined Contribution

The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) coordinates the updated nationally determined contribution process and advocates resource allocation at the Cabinet and parliamentary levels. MESTI will also facilitate the future periodic updates of the nationally determined contribution, considering inputs from the global stocktake and the latest scientific evidence. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will track and report the progress of implementing the nationally determined contribution across the nation and regularly publish progress, achievements, and challenges in the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) consistent with the UNFCCC Decision 18/CMA on Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines for the Transparency Framework. To this end:

The EPA and MESTI will advocate adopting appropriate carbon pricing measures, including the operationalisation of Article 6 and other international carbon market instruments to support green businesses, create jobs and facilitate technology transfer.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will continue to mobilise and track inflows from the Government, development partners, and the private sector to implement nationally determined contributions.
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) will continue to facilitate the mainstreaming of the nationally determined contribution into the sector and district plans and annual progress report to monitor the nationally determined contribution.

4 Financial Needs for Implementing the Revised Nationally Determined Contribution

Ghana requires between US$ 9 and US$ 15 billion 4 of investment to implement the 47 nationally determined contribution measures from 2020 to 2030. US$ 3 billion would be required to implement the 16 unconditional programmes of action till 2030. The remaining US$ 5 billion for the 31 conditional programmes of action would be mobilised from the public, international, and private sector sources and carbon markets. Ghana will need an additional US$ 3 million biennially to support coordination actions and the regular international reporting of the nationally determined contribution.

4 Technology and Capacity Needs for the Revised Nationally Determined Contribution

Technology and know-how are a catalyst for implementing the 47 measures to deliver the nationally determined contribution. Ghana will continue to promote rapid technology deployment and support the transfer of suitable emerging technologies to meet the country's needs.

4 Detailed investment estimate will be provided in the NDC investment strategy. Furthermore, Ghana will report on the actual investments in the nationally determined contribution in its biennial transparency report to the UNFCCC consistent with UNFCCC decision 18/CMA Annex 5 sections C and D.

6. Annexes

6 .1 Annexe 1 : Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding of Ghana's revised and enhanced nationally determined contribution according to the guidance in Annex 1 of Decision 4/CMA for 2 020 to 2 030 1. Quantifiable information on the reference point (including, as appropriate, a base year) a. Reference year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) or other starting point(s)

Base year - 2019

b. Quantifiable information on the reference indicators, their values in the reference year(s), base year(s), reference period(s) or other starting points (s), and, as applicable, in the target year

The 2019 base year of 58 MtCO 2 e emissions were estimated using the IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Inventories. There is a possibility of recalculating the 2019 greenhouse gas emission value in 2025 to respond to policy changes and improved data availability. The final value for the 2030 target year would be reported in the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory document covering the period up to 2030. c. For strategies, plans and actions referred to in Article 4, paragraph 6, of the Paris Agreement, or policies and measures as components of nationally determined contributions where paragraph 1(b) above is not applicable, Parties to provide other relevant information.

Not Applicable

d. Target relative to the reference indicator, expressed numerically, for example, in percentage or amount of reduction.

Ghana aims to implement 34 mitigation measures to achieve absolute emission reductions of 64 MtCO 2 e by 2030. Out of the 34 , nine unconditional measures are expected to lead to a 24 MtCO 2 e emission reduction amount. An additional 25 conditional measures can be implemented to further achieve 39 MtCO 2 e if financial support from the international and private sector is made available to cover the full cost for implementation. e. Information on sources of data used in quantifying the reference point(s).

Data sources for the quantifying information on the base year was based on 2019 greenhouse gas inventory results.

f. Information on the circumstances under which the Party may update the values of the reference indicators

The base year (2019) value would be subjected to recalculations and technical corrections in response to policy changes (to include the effects of Ghana's plans to accelerate the utilisation of extractive resources, development of nuclear energy to support the sustainable industrialisation plan), the best available science and availability of improved data per UNFCCC decision 18/CMA in 2025. Accordingly, information on the base year value updates would be documented and reported in the Biennial Transparency Reports and National inventory documents. 2. Time frames and periods for implementation a. Time frame and/or period for implementation, including start and end date, consistent with any further relevant decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA)

Ghana would be implementing the nationally determined contribution measures over nine years, starting from 202 1 and ending in 2030 with a review in 2025 consistent with Article 4 and decision 1/CP paragraph 24 to contribute to the Global stocktake as envisaged in Article 14 of the Paris Agreement. The breakdown of the timeframe of implementation is as follows: - Period of implementation: 2021 – 2030 ( 10 years) - Cycle 1: 2021 – 2025 (5 years) - Mid-Term review: 2025 - Cycle 2: 2026 – 2030 (5 years) b. Whether it is a single-year or multi-year target, as applicable

Ghana adopts an absolute single-year target approach, with 2019 being the base year and 2030 as the target year. 3. Scope and coverage a. General description of the target The absolute mitigation goal covers an average of 88% of the sources and removals of greenhouse gases of the economy. b. Sectors, gases, categories and pools covered by the nationally determined contribution, including, as applicable, consistent with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines

Gases covered: CO 2 , N 2 O, CH 4 , HFCs (CH 4 and HFCs are relevant Short-Lived Climate Pollutants - SLCPs). SLCPs and co-emitted air pollutants were included in the mitigation assessment to inform the nationally determined contribution. For SLCPs like methane and HFCs, their reduction in emissions is included in the overall GHG reduction target. For black carbon and other air pollutants (NOx, PM2, SO 2 , organic carbon, VOCs, carbon monoxide), the reduction in these

Adopting climate-smart agricultural practices is part of the country's agenda to create jobs and promote sustainable land management practices.
Nature-based solutions for promoting eco-tourism as a means for enhancing biodiversity through forest conservation and landscape restoration.
The pursuit of the Green Ghana initiative that incorporates the planting will contribute to the maintenance of the vegetation or landscape and serve as an adaptation measure against the increasing number of extreme weather events in urban areas.
The automation and the use of renewable energy to back the strengthening and full-scale deployment of the disease surveillance system and climate early warning systems as envisaged in all districts are expected to contribute to the mitigative effect of reduction in fossil fuel use for electricity generation.

Ghana's 2020 – 2025 COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) is a flagship policy in better building the economy through safeguarding jobs. It is envisaged that the economic gains from the CARES programme would, after 2025, serve as the basis for the Government to continue its economic diversification efforts in the face of the transition towards a resilient and low carbon future.

Planning processes a. Information on the planning processes that the Party undertook to prepare its nationally determined contribution and, if available, on the Party's implementation plans, including, as appropriate:

The process for updating the nationally determined contribution was government-led, consultative and used the best available national data. The process was divided into planning and formulation, public consultation and

i. Domestic institutional arrangements, public participation and engagement with local communities and indigenous peoples in a gender-responsive manner.

engagement, approval stages 5. The process began with developing a 7-point update plan to secure high-level political buy-in from relevant sector Ministers during the official launch update in September 2020.

A diagnosis of 2015 nationally determined contribution was made to assess progress and identify and prioritise challenges and investments into implementing the programmes in the nationally determined contribution. The findings from the comprehensive gender analysis also informed the revision of the nationally determined contribution. The Whole-Ghana-Approach (WoGA) strategy was employed to consult all the relevant stakeholders 6 during the update process to ensure the buy-in of the relevant stakeholders.

The findings from the diagnostics, the consultations and the need to respond to new government priorities; strengthen the implementation of the nationally determined contribution; boost private sector interest, the analytical work that ensued culminated in completing the information required in Annex 1 of Decision 4/CMA Information to facilitate clarity, transparency and understanding of Ghana's revised and enhanced nationally determined contribution. The draft revised nationally determined contribution. A background paper on the socio- economic and political implications was used for high-level engagement and political endorsement. Following cabinet approval, the updated nationally determined contribution was officially published and transmitted to the UNFCCC.

5 The approval stages - Ministerial approval to start the review process, and cabinet approval before the publication of the nationally determined contribution. 6 Ministries (such as Ministries of Finance, Energy, Transport, Agriculture, Lands and Natural Resources, Sanitation and Water Resources, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development), National Development Planning Commission, Private sector (Banks, Business Association, Project Developers), Development Partners and Academia, Civil Society Organisations (Kasa, Nature Conservation and Research Centre, GEF CSO Platform and Ghana Civil Society (CSO) Platform on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The devastating effects of COVID-19 made the economy grow by only 1% in 2020, a 6% shortfall before the pandemic. Besides COVID-19, Ghana is saddled with development challenges associated with high employment, urbanisation, and illegal mining. Climate change presents an additional long- term development risk that Ghana is addressing in the tight fiscal constraints. Despite the economic challenges, climate change remains a priority in Ghana. That is why its recent national development policy outlines climate change as a priority area for action. The commitment to tackle climate on all fronts has been shown in this nationally determined contribution's high ambition climate actions.

b. Specific information applicable to Parties, including regional economic integration organisations and their member States, that have reached an agreement to act jointly under Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement, including the Parties that agreed to act jointly and the terms of the agreement, in accordance with Article 4, paragraphs 16–18, of the Paris Agreement

Not Applicable

c. How the Party's preparation of its nationally determined contribution has been informed by the outcomes of the global stocktake, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 9, of the Paris Agreement;

Not applicable since the first global stocktake has not taken place yet

d. Each Party with a nationally determined contribution under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement that consists of adaptation action and/or economic diversification plans resulting in mitigation co-benefits consistent with Article 4, paragraph 7, of the Paris Agreement to submit information on:

Not applicable

i. How the economic and social consequences of response measures have been considered in developing the nationally determined contribution;

ii. Specific projects, measures and activities to be implemented to contribute to mitigation co- benefits, including information on adaptation plans that also yield mitigation co-benefits, which may cover, but are not limited to, key sectors, such as energy, resources, water resources, coastal resources, human settlements and urban planning, agriculture and forestry; and economic diversification actions, which may cover, but are not limited to, sectors such as manufacturing and industry, energy and mining, transport and communication, construction, tourism, real estate, agriculture and fisheries. 5. Assumptions and methodological approaches, including those for estimating and accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and, as appropriate, removals a. Assumptions and methodological approaches used for accounting for anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and removals corresponding to the Party's nationally determined contribution, consistent with decision 1/CP, paragraph 31, and accounting guidance adopted by the CMA;

The figures from Ghana's greenhouse gas inventories were the main input for the accounting. The accounting methodologies for the nationally determined contribution are consistent with UNFCCC decision 1/CP, paragraph 31, and UNFCCC decision 4/CMA. The accounting approaches and the assumptions for accounting for the nationally determined contribution have been provided in this document and will be reported in the Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) under the Paris Agreement, consistent with UNFCCC decisions 4/CMA and 18/CMA.

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