Vanuatu national communication to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Abstract

Vanuatu’s contribution to man-made global emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) is minute by international standards. Most emissions come from the combustion of fuels for transport and electricity generation, with carbon dioxide the predominant GHG emitted. Given the small proportion of the population with ready access to transport and electric supplies, the importance of expanding these services for economic and social development, and the dependence of Vanuatu on imported technology and equipment, neither an absolute reduction in national GHG emissions nor a reduction in GHG emissions per head of population is an immediate goal. However strategies to promote electricity generation from solar, wind and tidal current energy sources in association with phased adoption of international best practices for power generation and engine design will minimise increases in GHG emissions. At present GHG Inventory is too crude to allow useful prediction of the level at which Vanuatu’s emissions will peak or when this will occur.