Union of Comoros launches $6.6 billion climate action plan
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The Union of Comoros, a volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean, submitted a new Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations to address severe climate risks.
Although the country produces almost no greenhouse gas emissions, it faces frequent cyclones and droughts that threaten its biodiversity and the livelihoods of its people. The new plan aims to reduce emissions by 14 to 57 percent by 2035, depending on the level of international support received.
The government plans to spend approximately $6.6 billion by 2030 to implement various adaptation and mitigation projects. These efforts include reforesting 8,000 hectares of land, restoring 1,000 hectares of mangroves, and rehabilitating 600 hectares of coral reefs. These actions seek to protect vital agricultural export chains for crops like vanilla and cloves while potentially opening doors for carbon credit markets under the Paris Agreement. To improve water security, officials intend to build 50 micro-dams and restore 6,000 hectares of watersheds.
The UN Development Programme has already helped install climate-resilient water infrastructure in more than 50 communities, providing water to over 230,000 people. Additionally, the country is moving toward a cleaner power grid by developing a geothermal plant near the Karthala volcano, which is expected to produce about 15 megawatts of electricity.
