Mozambique is in the final stages of drafting NDC 3.0, the country’s new national commitment to mitigation and adaptation to climate change, which will define its contribution to the Paris Agreement through 2035. The document will be one of Mozambique’s main assets at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled for November this year in Belém do Pará, Brazil, where the country will be represented at the highest level.
The NDC 3.0 (Nationally Determined Contribution) outlines each nation’s concrete targets and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate resilience. Coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries, this updated version raises national ambitions and sets the path toward more sustainable development.
“NDC 3.0 reflects Mozambique’s climate agenda. It defines concrete measures to cut emissions and boost national resilience. We are strengthening the country’s ambition while keeping in mind our economic reality and financing challenges,” said Cláudio Quenhe, the official leading the process.
After submitting its second NDC in 2021, Mozambique is now preparing a third version, incorporating new priorities such as energy transition, reforestation, reduction of forest degradation, and community resilience building. The goal is to increase adaptive capacity and reduce community vulnerability to extreme weather events.
“The main focus is to reinforce mitigation and adaptation measures. Although Mozambique emits little, it is among the countries most vulnerable to climate-related disasters,” Quenhe explained.
According to national emission inventory data, Mozambique emits around 90 million tons of CO₂, mainly from deforestation and uncontrolled fires. “Mozambique’s potential lies precisely in reducing these emissions through reforestation and sustainable forest management,” he added. Key sectors covered in the NDC 3.0 include agriculture, forestry and land use, energy, transport, waste management, and industry.
The country is also investing in renewable energy, especially solar and hydropower, as well as natural gas, to accelerate the energy transition and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. “We are aligning NDC 3.0 with major national instruments such as the Energy Transition Strategy, the Government’s Five-Year Plan, and the National Development Strategy. We want a realistic, feasible NDC that attracts international financing,” Quenhe emphasized.
However, funding remains a major challenge. During the implementation of NDC 2.0, previously estimated at US$7.8 billion (493 billion meticais), only part of the funds pledged by international partners was actually disbursed. “Unfortunately, climate financing remains a global problem. Developed countries have not fully met their commitments, which limits the ability of nations like Mozambique to implement their measures,” he lamented.
The final document is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers before COP30. Key measures include promoting conservation agriculture, using drought-tolerant crops, strengthening resilient infrastructure, and creating national climate financing mechanisms to better respond to disasters such as cyclones and severe droughts.
With the document still in draft form, provincial and sectoral consultations are ongoing before final validation. Mozambique aims to arrive at COP30 with a solid and coherent plan, reaffirming its role as a leading African voice for climate action and for building an environmentally sustainable future.
Source: Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM)
