The Paris Agreement – and the successive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that lie at the heart of it – require worldwide economic and social transformation, based on the best available science. That is how the NDC Support Center* came into being: an initiative by EnergyVille / VITO, AFREC and CO2Logic – established with the financial support from the Government of Flanders – Departement Omgeving (Belgium) - to create a high-level African Knowledge Center that is committed to sustainably increasing the maturity of African countries when it comes to producing and updating their NDCs.
With its second operational year coming to a close, our EnergyVille / VITO NDC Support Center colleagues Maarten Pelgrims and Ruchi Gupta made their way to COP27, where they were invited to participate in a side event organized by G-STIC: the Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Community. The G-STIC Climate Action Programme side event, which took place on 11 November 2022 at the Benelux-EIB Pavilion, highlighted the impact of climate finance for governments, private organizations, research institutions and NGOs. As such, the event was aligned with the COP27 presidency’s priorities and focused on climate finance, as well as showcasing best practices and innovative climate solutions.
From that perspective, our EnergyVille / VITO colleague Maarten Pelgrims – Researcher on International Energy and Climate Strategy and Policy – took the stage together with H.E. Ibrahim Matola – the Minister of Energy of the Government of Malawi. Together they gave an enthusing case study presentation on the results of their successful cooperation in the last 1,5 years – showcasing their significant progress and project roadmaps – and, as such, proudly presented how the NDC Support Center has been of added value in assisting and supporting the Ministry of Energy in Malawi (one of the NDC Support Center’s pilot countries).
The NDC Support Center case study presentation recording runs from min. 25 until min. 52
More on the NDC Support Center
The NDC Support Center – being the high-level African Knowledge Center that it is – is committed to sustainably increasing the maturity of African countries when it comes to producing and updating their NDCs. It achieves this by:
- Strengthening energy data and the level of energy statistics to support informed decision and policy development.
- Using energy statistics and modelling to enhance knowledge on energy supply and demand – now and in the future – to assist energy and climate communication.
- Ensuring that updated NDCs set out correct policies and goals, and that these are fair and achievable.
In addition, the NDC Support Center initiates technical demonstration projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and supporting renewable energy – equally relying on these as a foundation to draw up an ambitious 2030 (and beyond) mitigation plan to help realize the roll-out of CO2-reducing technologies and map contributions to future NDCs.
That way, the NDC Support Center meets its objective to sustainably increase the maturity of African countries when it comes to energy statistics, modelling and GHG reporting (Greenhousegas), as well as its aim to provide long-term, continuous support to African countries in improving their National Energy Information Systems and developing their climate and energy planning and strategies to achieve their best path for the energy transition.
Did you know the NDC Support Center organized its own side event at COP26 last year, and was also present at the World Expo Dubai in the fall of 2021?
We created a 9-minute compilation video with selected fragments of those high-level side events, highlighting our international achievements and ambitions, and the rewarding work we continue to bring to the table to keep on contributing to climate action across the globe.
Curious to discover more on the NDC Support Center?
*The NDC Support Center is only possible thanks to the financial support from the Flemish Government Department omgeving. It also benefits from technical support from CO2 logic, a south pole company, which together with AFREC and EnergyVille / VITO is part of the implementing consortium.