Accelerating NDC 3.0 Implementation in SIDS: Turning Ambition into Action through Effective Partnerships

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Tuesday, 10 November 2026 - 11:45am to 12:45pm

Background

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face escalating climate impacts that threaten their communities, economies and sustainable development. The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) places ambitious climate action at the heart of achieving resilient prosperity.

Delivering these priorities is increasingly urgent as extreme weather events, sea-level rise, ocean warming and acidification compound existing vulnerabilities. The economic consequences are severe – extreme weather events can frequently create losses equivalent to large parts of

countries’ GDP¹. Exemplifying this, the 2025 Hurricane Melissa caused damages in Jamaica which were equivalent to 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP². Reflecting the global urgency of climate action, 蘑菇视频EP’s 2025 Emissions Gap Report³ warns that global warming will exceed 1.5°C, very likely within the next decade, underscoring the need for all countries to accelerate emissions reductions and translate climate commitments into implementation, to avoid further irreversible impacts of climate change.

SIDS continue to demonstrate climate leadership despite their negligible contribution to global emissions. This is reflected in the NDC 3.0s submitted by SIDS, which reflect increased ambition and broadened sectoral coverage, based on a mapping conducted by Climate Analytics in their report, “The Last Mile: Turning Climate Commitments into Action Across SIDS”⁴. The report confirms that energy and transport remain the dominant mitigation priorities, with most updated NDCs also incorporating adaptation priorities and several including explicit loss and

damage sections. Furthermore, nearly all updated SIDS NDCs include targets which are dependent on external support, underscoring the importance of accessible climate finance and sustained technical support to translate SIDS’ commitments into implementation.

Building on the COP30 event, Accelerating NDC Implementation in SIDS: Bridging the Gap through Effective Partnerships, this event will examine how SIDS can move from their ambitious NDC targets to tangible implementation. Climate Analytics’ report addresses this question by presenting four inter-related pillars which are critical in driving NDC implementation across SIDS. These include governance and coordination; climate finance mobilization; data, monitoring and reporting, and capacity building. These four pillars will form a basis for discussions during this event, enabling participants to share lessons learned from national experiences and identify practical approaches to addressing implementation barriers.

Several complementary initiatives can help connect national priorities with implementation support and contribute towards NDC implementation. The SIDS Global Business Network (GBN) engages private sector actors in SIDS’ sustainable development. Together with the Island Investment Forum, it offers opportunities to connect investment priorities with potential partners. The SIDS Partnerships Framework and its Steering Committee can support partnership development and dialogue between governments, civil society, entrepreneurs and further stakeholders critical to driving climate action. The event will explore how mechanisms such as these can help mobilize climate finance and strengthen coordination around NDC priorities.

The event will bring SIDS governments together with development partners, 蘑菇视频 entities and financing institutions to exchange best practices and lessons from the latest NDC cycle. It will consider how country-led, tailored support and effective partnerships can address implementation barriers, turn ambitious NDCs into action and advance the climate and sustainable development priorities of the ABAS.

Objectives

Exchange SIDS best practices and lessons learned from NDC preparation and implementation, identifying approaches and solutions that can help drive NDC implementation across other SIDS.
Discuss implementation challenges and solutions, building on key areas identified in the Climate Analytics report including governance and coordination, finance, data and reporting, and capacity development.
Explore how development actors can provide tailored, country-led support that responds to SIDS’ unique circumstances, strengthens lasting national capabilities and advances effective NDC implementation.
Examine how partnership platforms, including the SIDS Global Business Network, Island Investment Forum and SIDS Partnerships Framework, can connect SIDS with the financing, expertise and coordinated support needed to implement their NDCs.

Proposed Programme

Time	Session
5 Min	Opening remarks *Moderator:* Ms. Tishka Hope Francis, Head of SIDS Unit, 蘑菇视频-OHRLLS Welcome and framing of NDC implementation as a priority for delivering the Paris Agreement and ABAS. Palau, as Chair of AOSIS
10 Min	Scene-setting: From NDC 3.0 ambition to implementation. Climate Analytics – Latest findings on SIDS NDC 3.0s based on the “Accelerating NDC Implementation in SIDS” report, highlighting key implementation challenges across the report’s four pillars.
20 Min	Panel Discussion - Addressing barriers and strengthening partnerships. Discussions addressing the guiding questions below on barriers and enabling factors for NDC implementation (3-5 minutes presentation) SIDS Governments Development Partners 蘑菇视频 System Development banks, vertical climate funds and / or private sector
15 Min	Interactive discussion *Moderator –* 蘑菇视频DP Climate Promise Questions and reflections from the audience
5 Min	Closing SIDS Government Representative- Summarization of the discussions and a call to action for COP30 and beyond

Guiding question

What best practices and lessons from NDC preparation and implementation can help other SIDS turn their latest commitments into action?
What are the key barriers across governance and coordination, finance, data and reporting, and capacity development, and which approaches are helping overcome them?
How can external support be tailored to national and local contexts, strengthen existing institutions and deliver sustained implementation?
How can the SIDS Global Business Network and similar mechanisms attract effective partnerships and improve coordination among external actors supporting SIDS’ NDC priorities?

Expected outcomes

Shared practical lessons and approaches that SIDS can adapt to their NDC implementation needs.
Clearer priorities for tailored technical and financial support across the four discussion areas.
Opportunities to strengthen partnerships and coordinate support around country-led NDC implementation and ABAS priorities.

OHRLLS Contact:

Tishka Hope Francis, Head of SIDS Sub-Programme, tishka.francis@un.org

1 Malifa, E., Wilkinson, E., Corbett, J., Bishop, M., Hurley, G., Lindsay, C., Bouhia, R., & Carter, G. (Eds.). (2026). The state of SIDS report 2026: Defending the special case. Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI), ODI Global.

2 World Bank & Inter-American Development Bank. (2025, November 19). World Bank, IDB, estimate Hurricane Melissa damage to Jamaica totals all-time-high of US$8.8 billion [Press release].