Benin’s Nationally Determined Contributions and its Economy

Benin’s Nationally Determined Contributions and its Economy
Image: Getty, Delphine Bousquet/AFP

The greatest progress made towards setting more ambitious nationally determined commitments (NDCs) for Benin was in the energy and agricultural sectors.

Summary:

  • Benin, like many other countries, is taking active steps to mitigate the effects of climate change by concentrating on the achievement of its nationally determined commitments (NDCs).
  • Benin’s NDCs, first introduced in 2015, were revised in 2021 to include more ambitious objectives (and intended) outcomes.
  • The government of Benin has implemented a wide range of policy measures to steer the achievement of its NDCs, with the majority of measures focused on large investments in infrastructure and information campaigns.
  • The government’s NDCs in the agriculture and energy sectors align well with Benin’s national priorities, with evidence of a strong overlap between the government’s National Development Plan and its NDCs in the agricultural and energy sectors, with an emphasis on food security and electricity access.
  • The government could further ensure the successful realisation of its NDCs by integrating them with the country’s monetary policy. The agricultural sector, in particular, could benefit from the alignment between credit expansion efforts and the NDCs.
  • It is also recommended that information on the progress towards meeting the NDCs be made much more freely available to the public, thereby stimulating a constructive dialogue between the government and other stakeholders and enhancing the prospects of private-sector investment.
The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

2 Aug 2023