IN the pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future, the CNMI is taking significant strides with its Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP).
Spearheading this initiative is Christina M. Sablan, appointed by Governor Arnold I. Palacios as the special assistant for the newly established Climate Policy and Planning Program. In this pivotal role, Sablan’s primary responsibility is to facilitate CNMI’s transition to a clean energy, low-carbon economy. She emphasized, “We can do a lot here in the islands to reduce emissions, provide cleaner air to our communities, and increase our climate resiliency as well as our energy security when we move to clean and locally available sources of energy.”
A significant milestone was achieved on April 15th when Governor Palacios signed the Blue Planet Climate Agreement, committing CNMI to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045, aligning with other island communities.
The PCAP is a comprehensive strategy crafted to tackle the pressing issue of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in CNMI. Sablan noted, “Relatively speaking, small island communities like ours contribute very little to greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the whole planet. But we are very much on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and our heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels makes us even more vulnerable.”
At the core of the PCAP are five priority measures, each targeting a specific aspect of emissions reduction: electricity generation, transportation, solid waste management, wastewater treatment, and carbon removal. These measures were developed through a collaborative process involving government departments, agencies, municipalities, and community stakeholders, with funding from a Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Evaluating GHG emissions is central to the PCAP’s efficacy. Utilizing the EPA’s Local Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool, CNMI has assessed emissions across key sectors, including electricity generation, transportation, waste management, and wastewater treatment. The inventory revealed that electric power generation and transportation account for a staggering 99% of CNMI’s emissions, highlighting the urgency for targeted interventions in these areas.
The PCAP outlines six core measures with detailed actions to reduce GHG emissions:
Green Electric Power: Develop clean power plants, install solar and renewable systems, provide incentives for commercial and residential renewable energy adoption.
Green Buildings and Infrastructure: Implement energy and water efficiency measures, incentivize weatherization, enforce green building codes and nature-based solutions.
Green Transportation: Evaluate clean public transit options, develop a low-emission ferry system, promote bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, increase low/no emission vehicles, and build park-and-ride facilities.
Green Materials and Waste Management: Install renewables at waste facilities, implement waste-to-energy projects, promote recycling and composting, adopt green digital processes.
Green Spaces and Carbon Removal: Expand forestry programs, restore mangroves, wetlands, and coral reef ecosystems, revegetate degraded lands, and prevent wildfires to protect carbon sinks.
Green Workforce: Develop training programs to support the transition to green power, buildings, transportation, and construct a climate resiliency training center.
While the PCAP sets a solid foundation, CNMI recognizes the need for long-term planning and adaptation. The forthcoming Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, due by September 2027, will take a holistic approach, reviewing all significant GHG sources and sinks while establishing emission reduction goals and strategies.
As CNMI moves toward sustainability, challenges arise in balancing economic development with environmental conservation and addressing infrastructure limitations, particularly in remote island communities. However, CNMI remains optimistic about its prospects, embracing renewable energy, eco-friendly practices, and promoting environmental awareness to pave the way for a brighter, more resilient future.
The PCAP represents a commitment to sustainability and climate resilience. By prioritizing emission reduction measures, engaging stakeholders, and planning for the future, CNMI sets a precedent for environmental leadership in the Pacific region.
As we reflect on Earth Day, let us draw inspiration from CNMI’s efforts and collectively work towards a more sustainable, equitable world where people and nature thrive in harmony.
Full document of CNMI’s Climate Action Plan will be available soon at https://opd.gov.mp/ and in was attached in this article.
