Tunisia Boosts Climate Ambition Ahead of COP30
Tunisia has significantly increased its climate ambition by 2035, according to the preliminary draft of its upcoming Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) published on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) website.
Updated Climate Strategy
This draft document updates Tunisia's last NDC, which was submitted to the UNFCCC in 2021. It redefines the country's climate strategy as the international community gathers in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
Key Objectives
The document proposes:
- A 62% reduction in carbon intensity by 2035 (with an intermediate target of 46.2% by 2030)
- Without external support, Tunisia aims for a 31% reduction (with an intermediate target of 28% by 2030)
- A reduction of net emissions to 24 MtCO2e (metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2035, avoiding approximately 152 MtCO2e of cumulative net emissions between 2026 and 2035
Sectoral Emissions Reduction
The country plans to reduce emissions from:
- The energy sector by 81%
- The agriculture, forestry, and other land use sector by 14%
Extended Implementation Period
The implementation period has been extended to 2026-2035, marking Tunisia's entry into long-term climate planning. The sectoral coverage remains the same (energy, industrial processes, agriculture, and waste), but the draft introduces a structured mitigation trajectory until 2035, including cumulative emissions avoided.
Enhanced Adaptation Dimension
The new version expands the scope of adaptation to include:
- Biodiversity
- Education
- Social inclusion
- Youth With the intention of establishing quantifiable objectives by 2030 and 2035
International Support
However, the most ambitious scenario depends on massive international support, both financially and technologically.
Financing Needs
Compared to the previous NDC, which estimated financing needs at approximately $19.4 billion for 2021-2030, the updated climate plan estimates total financing needs, including capacity-building, technology transfer, and support, at around $28.22 billion by 2035.
