Democratic Republic of the Congo

Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

Submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Summary
Reference year:

2000

Commitment period:

2021-2030

Type of contribution:

Conditional

Sectors taken into account:

Agriculture, forestry and energy

Gases covered

CO, CH, NO

Reduction level:
2030

17%, measured against a projection of BAU emissions in

DRC's INDC financing needs:

US$ 21.622bn, of which:

Adaptation:

US$ 9.082bn

Mitigation:

US$ 12.540bn

Development goals and priorities, national climate change context

1 National context
1.1 Goals and sustainable development plans
With an area covering 2,345,000km, the DR Congo (DRC) is characterised by (i) a
wealth of outstanding natural resourcesforests, mines, water resources, biodiversity
and energy; (ii) a dense network of waterways, including the preeminent Congo river
basin3.7m km; and (iii), a current population reckoned to total 75m inhabitants,
whose growth stands at 3.1% p.a. and whose income is mostly generated by the
informal sector.
The national sustainable development strategy and Government's plan of action for
the 2012-2016 timeframe, as well as the prospect of achieving emerging economy
status in 2030, are centred on priority paths toward development that include the
mining, agricultural and forestry sectors and the development of an industrial
network operating in a context of increased decentralisation.
Taking into account environmental issues in general and those of sustainable
development and climate change in particular remain major concerns when planning
for national development and implementing sector strategies.
1.2 Main social-economic and environmental development challenges
On the economy, the country has registered progress in the average growth of its
GDP, which has reached 5.6% during the 2006-2010 period and 8.1% between 2011
and 2013. National private sector investments have hardly increasedless than 5%

of GDP between 1990 and 2010. During the last ten years, public spending has
focused on the building infrastructures required to achieve economic development. In
addition, the farming sector, which employs 70% of the country's workforce,
contributes to the national economy at a level of 50% (UNDP, 2010).
In spite of the registered progress, there remains the fact that:
o

The DRC continues to experience fragile social situations that, according to

figures from the MDG report1, appear not to have significantly improved in the
course of the last twenty years. The country's situation is characterised by its
people poverty, contrasting with the country's vast natural potential, which is
exacerbated by a strong population growth weighing on demand for social
services in both rural areas and urban centres; whilst furthermore, depending
on provincial circumstances, such services are unevenly delivered;

The country still features as the one, among all 187, that has the lowest
human development index, according the 2014 human development report.
The share of its people who do not achieve the minimum level of calorific
intake has increased during the 90s, from 31 to 73%. Although that share has
decreased thereafter, food insecurity remains strong and it affects 76% of the
Congolese people today2, whilst food spending stands at 62.3% of Congolese
households' total expenditure3;

The number of people having access to electric power is extremely low: 15%
nation-wide1% in rural areas; 30% in urban centreswhereas the average
for Sub-Saharan Africa is 24.6%;

Access to drinking water benefits 47% of its population; access to sanitation

services benefits 14% of its population; and access to refuse collection and
processing services is insignificant in urban areas and virtually nil in rural
areas;

Finally, unemployment, especially among young people15-24 years old

aggravated by population growth, remains at a high nation-wide level of 18%
and affects the urban youth in particular: 32%.

Insufficient national and international funding to effectively implement large scale

strategies and plans of action in various areas as well as key legal and institutional
reforms are major challenges. Also, the lack of true cross sector intervention policies,
amidst conflicts of jurisdiction and in-fighting amongst competing sectorsmining,
agriculture and forestryhampers the implementation of climate change activities
within a unifying framework of programmes for both mitigation and adaptation.
For a number of years, the DRC has been in the process of materialising its vision to
evolve and become an emerging economy by 2060, thereby achieving its Rvolution
de la Modernit, whose three-stage implementation is foreseen as follows:

1 DRC, 2010. Following figures are quoted from this report.

2 FO, http://www.faoorg/countries/55528/en/cod/
3 DRC, 2011.

Between 2012 and 2020, the DRC will go on from being a low income country
to one being an intermediate income country, thanks to the transformation of
its agriculture;
Between 2020 and 2030, it will achieve emerging economy status through
intensive industrialisation, thanks to the development of an energy sector
supporting the mining and farming sectors;
Between 2030 and 2060, the DRC will go on from being an emerging country
to a developed country, relying on the green economy and a knowledge-based
society.

However, the DRC is currently a low-carbon emission country, whose specifics mark it
out from other countries: its natural capital, coming from its forest and its hydroelectric power potential, together with its capacity to interconnect with countries in
the sub region, offer tremendous potential for growth. Given its foreseen path
towards national development, the country must have long term implementation
goals, focusing on environmental sustainability.
1.3 National climate change context
The DRC has ratified both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change and the Kyoto Protocol, in 1997 and 2005 respectively. Since then, it has
implemented a number of interventions in the following areas:
o
o
o
o

o
o

The inventory of its greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, in 2001, 2009 and
2014;
The adoption on August 29, 2002 of Act No 011/2002 outlining a Forestry
Code;
The provision of a National Programme for the Environment, Forests, Water
resources and Biodiversity;
An assessment in 2006 of climate change risks and vulnerability to its impacts
as well as the implementation since 2010 of adaptation projects, in the
farming sector in particular;
The identification in 2007 of mitigation opportunities and technological
requirements;
The implementation of processes to reduce emissions from deforestation and
forest degradation (REDD, 2009):
- Engaging with the Forest Investment Programme (2010);
- Adopting a national REDD+ Framework Strategy (2012);
- Establishing a national REDD+ Fund (2012);
The launch of a process to design a national climate change policy, strategy
and plan of action, comprising three pillars: i.e.,
- A low carbon development strategy (2012);
- The DRC's climate change National Adaptation Plan (2014); and its
- Cross sector integration into national policies and strategies;
The provision of a policy paper for the electricity sector, including an Atlas of
renewable energies in the DRC.

1.4 The national management system of GHG inventory

The Ministry for the Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD in French),
through the government body for international negotiations, the Department of
Sustainable Development (DDD in French), is responsible for the co-ordination and
monitoring of Government activities in the field of climate change and it ensures the
management of GHG inventories.
A national climate change committee, under the supervision of the Permanent
Secretary for the Environment and Sustainable Development, provides guidance for
the cross sector and multidisciplinary implementation of climate change programmes
and projects.
Under DDD's supervision, teams of experts from ministries and government
departments, universities and national research centres, private institutions and nongovernmental organisations are responsible for the definition of implementation
protocols, of GHG emissions evaluation and the assessment of vulnerability to the
effects of climate change, as well as to establish technological requirements. The
responsibility to formally endorse reports on inventories of GHG emissions lies
specifically with the National Climate Committee who presents them to Government.
A national surveillance system of measuring, verification and reporting linked to
REDD+ activities has been established within the MEDD. Operational technical units
are active for three pillars of this system: i.e., (i) the Land Surveillance by Satellite
System (SSTS); (ii) the National Forest Inventory (IFN); and (iii), the Greenhouse
Gases Inventory (IGES). To date, for each of those three pillars, considerable progress
has been achieved, in terms of production and strengthening of human technical
capabilities. A similar system to monitor non-forest emissions is being designed
within the framework of the provision of a low-carbon development strategy and the
definition of NAMA projects.
2 Contribution linked to adaptation
2.1 Arguments for considering adaptation in the definition of an INDC
The GHG inventory compiled in the DRC (MEDD, 2015) indicates the main emitting
sectors. These are land use, land-use change and forestry, followed well behind by
agriculture and energy. Emissions from other sectors are minimal.
The National Programme for Adaptation to Climate Change PANA (MEDD, 2006) has
delivered limited mapping results, which show vulnerabilities that the DRC faces from
climate change effects. Meanwhile, it has revealed great concerns on issues of
farming and water resources and in coastal areas, which strongly impact vulnerability
on issues of food security and health.
2.2 Summary of climate change trends, impacts and vulnerability
Surveys that have been conducted highlight the following findings:

a) Temperature variations projections will range from 1 to 2C in 2050 and from

1.5 to 3C in 2100, according to a B1, low-emissions scenario (Van Garderen
& Ludwig, 2013);
b) Results produced according to the Pitman simulation, as applied to the 20462065 period at the Bukama station, show an increase in current and potential
evapo-transpiration amounting to 10 or 15%;
c) Analyses into the history of past climate data at the Kinshasa Ndjili station
show:
o That the frequency of extremely humid and extremely dry occurrences will
begin to increase during the 2081-2100 time lapse ;
o Great disruptions in the distribution of rainy seasons will begin to occur
during the 2046-2065 time lapse;
d) According to the Pitman hydrological model, results for Bukama station show:
o A slight 3.1% increase in ground humidity stocks, which could come as a
consequence of a 10.6% increase in rainfalls;
o A slight decrease in total runoffs, which could come as a consequence of a
decrease in reloads and ground runoffs;
e) An analysis of results produced by the Schellnhuber & al. simulation (2013),
which provide a 10% increase in sea-levels compared with current levels along
coastlines of the African Continent. For the DRC, such an increase will range
between 60 and 70cm, assuming a 2C increase in temperature.
The five major high-impact climate effects that threaten people's daily lives cause
loss of lives, damage to infrastructure, habitat destruction, especially in poor urban
areas, an increase of vulnerability to water-borne diseases and a severe disruption to
farming cycles because of seasonal droughts.
2.3 Communication on short- and long-term visions of adaptation, goals and
targets
The DRC's vision to implement adaptation is based on the framework provided by its
National Programme for Adaptation to Climate Change (PANA, 2006). That
programme has outlined three priority intervention paths in matters of adaptation:
i.
ii.
iii.

Secure means of subsistence and ways of life for rural and urban communities;
Manage forest resources rationally; and
Protect and preserve vulnerable ecosystems in coastal area.

Since 2014, a National climate change Adaptation Plan (PNA) initiated a process to
update directions stated in the PANA and to integrate, according to inclusive and
multidisciplinary principles, adaptation issues in sector policies and strategies.
2.4 Communication on current and planned initiatives and support on
issues of adaptation
The country has already made efforts to define urgent adaptation activities in the
areas of agriculture and community development and in the fight against coastal
erosioni.e.,

o
o

PANA-ASA (2010-2013): a farming sector adaptation project, focused on

improving sector resilience in four provinces;
PANA-ASA 2: a project for `Resilient economic growth and climate change
adaptation in the DRC, which will be implemented from 2016, whose purpose
is to replicate PANA-ASA achievements in new target zones. The project aims
at the establishment of an enabling context for adaptation and to improve
eco-farming production techniques;
PANA-AFE (2015-2020): this on-going project capitalises on PANA-ASA
achievements strengthening women and children resilience in the face of
climate change in former PANA-ASA intervention zones. It aims at the DRC's
commitment to protect vulnerable groups most affected by climate change;
Coastal Zone PANA (2015-2020): this on-going project aims to strengthen
community resilience in the face of climate change, implementing the means
to fight coastal erosion, establishing an early warning system and diversifying
income generating activities for vulnerable communities.

2.5 Shortcomings and barriers

The DRC faces a number of social-economic development challenges, added to which
is its vulnerability to impacts of climate change. Furthermore, having to design a
coherent adaptation programme across its whole territory, it faces additional major
challengesi.e.,
o
o
o

A lack of reliable climate data for a realistic assessment and interpretation of

climate trends;
Weak technical, institutional and legal capabilities to support the definition of
adaptation issues integrated across national, regional and local levels;
Insufficient financing to implement adaptation initiatives.

2.6 Summary of requirements

In essence, requirements cover the needs of the farming sector and the energy and
transport sectors, together with improving access to drinking water, to sanitation and
the management of refuse collection and processing, a strengthening of biodiversity
conservation measures with the integration of people in the forestry sector and an
integrated protection of coastal areas.
o
o
o
o

Adaptation measures to support the farming sector:

US$ 1,563.90m
Adaptation measures to support the energy and transport sectors:
US$ 7,350.00m
Adaptation measures to support the forestry sector:
US$ 50.00m
Coastline climate change adaptation measures26km vulnerable BananaNsianfumu zone:
US$ 118.00m
Costs (US$'bn)

Farming adaptation
Energy & Transport
adaptation
Forest adaptation
Coastline adaptation

Chart 1 Distribution of adaptation costs by sector (US$'bn)

2.7 Monitoring and reporting mechanism

The country recognises the fact that the monitoring and evaluation of adaptation
policies and programmes is crucial to ensure that resources focus on measures that
will provide the best chances of increasing population resilience. The definition of key
adaptation indicators has already begun within the framework of the PANA-ASA
project and, during the implementation of the PANA-AFE and PANA Coastal zone
projects, they will continue to address that definition issue. The key lessons learned
will be shared among all programmes. The goal is to integrate adaptation and
vulnerability indicators in the national measuring, reporting and verification system
(MRV) that will be built
3 Contribution linked to mitigation
3.1 Timeframe:

2021 through 2030

3.2 Type of contribution

The DRC's contribution on the issue of mitigation will be based on initiatives; coupled
to minimal emission reduction efforts measured against business as usual (BAU)
2030 emission projections.
3.3 Targeted level
Owing to investments required to reach the DRC's mitigation goals and given the
national development priorities, only a limited amount of its contribution will be
funded with the use of its own resources.
Those activities are dependent on access to appropriate corresponding support, in
terms of financial resources, technological transfer and of a strengthening of national
capacity. It is therefore necessary to ease access to resources that will enable the
implementation of activities mentioned in the DRC's INDC.
3.4 Reduction of GHG emissions

The DRC is committed to reduce its emissions by 17% prior to 2030, as measured
against emissions in a status quo scenario430 COe Mti.e., a reduction of more
than 70 COe Mt (MEDD, 2009).
Indeed, the national context is as such: (i) the DRC's area under the cover of forests
in 2010 was around 152m hectares (MEDD, 2015); (ii) the monitored rate of
deforestation between 1990 and 2010 was around 0.32% (MEDD, 2015); (iii)
deforestation and forest degradation is mostly due to commercial farming (40%),
subsistence farming (20%) and felling for fuel wood (20%) 4. Support is foreseen
for projects to plant around 3m hectares of forest by 2025 at the latest, within the
framework of afforestation and reforestation programmes5, which should sink around
3m tonnes of CO.

Graph 2: Trends in GHG emissions from 2000 through 2030

The major sectors identified for leverage are those of agriculture, Land Use, Land-Use
Change and Forestry (LULUCF) and energy.

Chart 3: Emission reduction potential, by leverage sector, COe Mt

3.5 Means of implementation

An estimation of costs to act on all mitigation and carbon sink levers, across sectors
under consideration, is reckoned to total US$ 12.54bn.

Chart 4: Shares of the cost of emission reduction, by leverage sector (US$'m)

3.6 Sectors and gases concerned

Sectors under consideration are LULUCF, agriculture and energy. GH gases under
consideration are CO, CH and NO. Industrial and Refuse collection and treatment

4 The DRC's REDD+ potential, December 2009, Ministry for the Environment.
5 Government's 2012-2016 Plan of Action.

processes are not taken into account, given their limited contribution to the balance
of GHG emissions in the DRC.
3.7 Accounting methodology
In accordance with GHG emissions accounting and reporting rules, the DRC's INDC is
based on the IPCC's revised 1996 guidelines and its 2006 guidelines, on the
Convention's methodological directions in matters pertaining to GHG estimations and
reporting, as well as on the additional agriculture and land use (ALU) methodologies
and best practices guides (IPCC, 2000 and 2003).
3.8 Implementation of institutional arrangements
To implement its INDC, given the fact that the Ministry for the Environment and
Sustainable development is technically responsible for the implementation of the
country's environmental policy, the DRC will rely on existing arrangements to press
on with Government climate change activities through its Department of Sustainable
Development (DDD).
To implement the various project initiatives, DDD will establish a multi sector and
multidisciplinary team of experts to design and formulate methodologies, collect and
process data and to establish databases as well as perform tasks related to climate
change. The team will act as an advisory and information group to ensure that
coherence prevails in proposed methods.
3.9 Fairness and ambition
The DRC is a member of the Least Advanced group of Countries and, according to the
2014 human development report its index scores the lowest. Hence, in terms of
social economic development, the country faces many challenges. In addition, the
country's priority is to minimise the impacts of climate change risks, because of its
great vulnerability to economic activities, such as agriculture and forestry.
The DRC's contribution to global GHG emissions is extremely lowaround 0.5% in
2010. Besides, the intensity of its GHG against its gross domestic product (GDP) is
extremely low too.
Because of the vast area under cover of its forestsaround 152m hectares in 2010
(MEDD, 2015)de country is a net carbon sink. In spite of this, the DR Congo offers
to implement mitigation activities that will reduce its emissions by 17%. Given the
circumstances, the Democratic Republic of the Congo believes its Contribution is both
fair and ambitious.