May 2025
Summary Statement
In early 2025, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) launched a nationwide series of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) workshops, marking a significant step toward advancing coordinated implementation of its climate commitments. With technical and logistical support from the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme (CFCSP), and funding secured from the New Zealand Government, FSM’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Emergency Management (DECEM) delivered inclusive, multi-stakeholder workshops in all 4 states and at the national level.
These workshops engaged approximately 164 participants across all 5 workshops from state and national governments, civil society and development partners. The process enabled stakeholders to review progress on FSM’s current NDC, clarify technical priorities, and co-develop draft Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound (SMART) work plans and implementation pathways for each state and at national level. The workshops also generated consensus on establishing formal working groups and governance structures to support cross-sectoral coordination ahead of FSM’s 2025 NDC 3.0 preparation and submission.
The first national-level workshop of the series was opened in Pohnpei on the 5 March 2025 by Acting Secretary Cynthia Ehmes. Acting Secretary Ehmes emphasised that climate change must be addressed by all sectors and levels of government. “Ultimately, we want to ensure low carbon and climate-resilient development for FSM with due regard for our culture, traditions, environment and our national circumstances,” she said.
By the conclusion of the workshop series, FSM had built a foundation for translating national climate commitments into concrete, state-aligned action, moving from high-level policy intent toward practical, locally-grounded delivery.
Context and Challenge
As FSM moves toward its 2025 deadline to submit its updated NDC (NDC 3.0) under the Paris Agreement, the DECEM has identified both a challenge and an opportunity. While the existing NDC outlines FSM’s national commitments, past processes have largely remained at the national level, with limited direct engagement or involvement from state-level officials and stakeholders. This has resulted in an NDC framework that, while ambitious, has faced implementation barriers because state governments were not fully part of shaping priorities or delivery pathways.
Recognising this gap, DECEM has prioritised 2 interconnected streams of work: first, developing detailed work plans, inclusive of targets for NDC 3.0 (noting that NDC 2.0 targets extend to 2030 and NDC 3.0 to 2035), to advance implementation of existing commitments under the current NDC; and second, launching an inclusive, state engaged process to roll-out of the current NDC which can be used inform the development of NDC 3.0. These streams are not contradictory but mutually reinforcing: implementation work plans provide the foundation for near-term action, while the drafting of the new NDC 3.0 will ensure that future commitments are grounded in lessons from on-the-ground delivery and reflect the priorities, capacities and perspectives of state actors. Without this dual approach, there is a risk that NDC 3.0 would once again become a high-level document without meaningful traction across the country.
To address this gap, DECEM sought support from the CFCSP to co-design and deliver a nation-wide series of NDC workshops. The goal was to ensure that state governments, civil society and other key actors could actively contribute to the shaping of FSM’s revised NDC and develop a shared understanding of their roles in implementation.
In response, the CFCSP partnered closely with DECEM to scope and operationalise the roll-out of the workshops. Together, they co-developed a terms of reference (ToR) that outlined a participatory process grounded in state-level realities and national policy priorities. The CFCSP also supported the recruitment of a senior facilitator, Dr Mahendra Kumar, whose role included raising awareness about FSM’s current enhanced NDC (NDC 2.0), guiding collaborative planning sessions, and supporting the development of draft implementation work plans.
To enable full coverage across all 4 states and the national level, the CFCSP worked with DECEM to secure funding from New Zealand. This financial support ensured broad-based participation and allowed the workshops to be delivered in-person, creating a space for open dialogue, questions and consensus-building. The workshops were designed not only to inform but also to activate – helping participants identify technical priorities, propose governance structures, and begin shaping SMART work plans to guide delivery of FSM’s climate commitments.
Workshop Participation
Government representation formed the majority of participants in all workshops, reflecting the central role of state government institutions in developing the priorities and coordination required to deliver the NDC. This broad-based engagement across ministries and departments laid a solid foundation for future coordination and policy alignment.
Women were well-represented in every workshop. Civil society organisations and youth also contributed meaningfully to discussions, providing diverse community perspectives and helping to ensure that a range of voices influenced the design of FSM’s updated climate priorities.
While private sector participation was limited, the inclusion of business representatives in several workshops marked an important first step towards expanding engagement with non-state actors in climate planning. Looking ahead, these workshops offer a platform to build stronger public–private collaboration as FSM moves from policy development to implementation.
Although participation by persons with disabilities and detailed age data were not consistently reported, the workshops nonetheless created a strong precedent for inclusive engagement. Future rounds present an opportunity to build on this momentum by strengthening data collection and ensuring even more targeted outreach across all stakeholder groups.
Intervention
From March to April 2025, Dr Kumar worked with DECEM’s mitigation team (with representation from the Department of Resources and Development) to facilitate 5 workshops: one at the national level and one in each of FSM’s 4 states. The decision to conduct in-person sessions across all states reflected both a logistical necessity and a political priority. In FSM, each state exercises considerable autonomy over key development sectors. Ensuring state-level ownership of climate commitments was therefore essential to building an implementable and widely supported NDC.
The workshops brought together a total of 164 participants (45 female, 119 male), including government officials, civil society representatives, participants from youth and women’s groups, and development partners. Sessions covered all 8 sectors of FSM’s NDC: energy; short-lived pollutants; food and water security; ecosystems; transport; public health; and emergency management. Participants reviewed current NDC targets, assessed sectoral progress and gaps, and collaboratively developed SMART work plans tailored to national and state contexts. They also drafted ToRs for national and state-level working groups and technical advisory roles, strengthening coordination both horizontally (across sectors and agencies) and vertically (between state and national governments).
Each workshop also focused on state-specific priorities. In Kosrae, participants prioritised renewable energy expansion and shoreline protection. Chuuk participants emphasised water security infrastructure and health system resilience. In Pohnpei, participants focused on climate-resilient agriculture and low-emissions transport and, in Yap, they explored nature-based solutions and marine ecosystem protection. These priorities reflected both the environmental realities of each location and the sectoral responsibilities held at the state level, further reinforcing the importance of localised engagement in the NDC planning process, reflecting a shift toward more rights-based and community-focused climate action.
Early Results of the NDC Workshops
Laying the groundwork for NDC implementation and national planning
The outputs of the NDC workshops ranged from draft governance structures to sector-specific action plans and are now poised to inform FSM’s 2025 NDC 3.0 submission, the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan, and broader integration of climate action into national and state-level planning processes.
Established NDC governance architecture
Each of FSM’s 4 states now have a draft ToR to establish a state-level, multi-sectoral NDC Working Group. These working groups are designed to coordinate implementation of NDC priorities at the state level, with defined mandates, membership criteria and responsibilities. A national working group has also been scoped, ensuring alignment across the states and coherence with the FSM Strategic Development Plan. These governance structures, co-designed during the workshops, represent a foundational shift towards embedding climate action within existing institutional structures.
The overarching aim of the workshop was to set clear, actionable and strategic pathways for FSM’s climate commitments.
Enhanced sectoral clarity and prioritisation
Workshop sessions equipped sector leads with the tools and space to develop SMART work plans across FSM’s 8 NDC sectors. More than 25 actionable activities were documented across the 4 states, reflecting each state’s individual priorities such as expanding renewable energy in Kosrae, piloting climate-resilient agriculture in Pohnpei, upgrading water access infrastructure in Chuuk, and identifying nature-based solutions in Yap. These outputs will directly inform the updated NDC and serve as technical inputs for funding proposals and sectoral strategies moving forward.
Having a space to ask questions in person helped clarify the NDC’s intent and how we can contribute at the state level.
Strengthened stakeholder understanding and alignment
The workshops engaged 164 participants, including national and state government officials, civil society representatives, youth and women’s groups, and development partners. These sessions significantly improved shared understanding of the NDC structure, targets and implementation requirements. Participants reported increased confidence in navigating FSM’s climate policy landscape and identifying where their sectors and institutions fit within the broader picture. The interactive format also supported two-way learning, helping DECEM and national agencies better understand state-level realities and delivery opportunities.
We must manage the environment with utmost seriousness, as we are representing future generations.
Improved coordination between national and state actors
By co-developing the governance structures and sectoral plans, the workshops strengthened both horizontal coordination (between ministries and sectors) and vertical linkages (between national and state governments). DECEM is now positioned to play a more effective coordinating and policy support role, engaging with national institutions like the Green Climate Fund national designated authority and regional partners such as the Micronesia Conservation Trust. This emerging coordination architecture is already supporting FSM’s efforts to prepare climate finance proposals and will be critical to sustaining implementation momentum beyond 2025.
The workshops helped connect the dots between national policy and state action.
Post Workshop Survey Results
The post-workshop feedback survey gathered 23 responses from participants across national and state workshops, including representatives from government agencies, NGOs and community groups. Participants highlighted several key takeaways, including gaining a new understanding of NDC processes and national commitments, with one participant noting, “The workshop was my first exposure to NDC work, it was eye-opening to understand the carbon reduction targets and how we are part of this.” Others valued the cross-sector collaboration, with one participant reflecting, “Cross-sector contributions to achieving carbon reduction targets were an important learning,” and another praised the harmonisation between FSM and the states, and the “capable external technical support” provided.
Looking ahead, participants suggested improvements such as better advanced workshop planning and communication. For example, “Let it be known early or ensure participating members are available so everyone can fully engage,” and more targeted, inclusive agendas, with one noting, “Right and relevant state thematic and sector focal points must be identified early.” There was also a call to establish clear follow-up structures, with one respondent urging, “Organise the working Steering Group quickly to maintain momentum.” Overall, the feedback reflects a solid baseline of satisfaction alongside clear actions for strengthening future workshops.
Why this Matters
The national roll-out of FSM’s NDC workshops was an important milestone in establishing coordinated awareness, understanding and priorities for climate action across FSM. This is particularly important in a country with such dispersed national/state governance institutions. The workshops supported the drafting of practical outputs, including draft ToRs for multi-sector working groups and sector-specific SMART work plans that now serve as the governance and operational backbone for FSM’s updated NDC and future climate strategies. These outputs provide the tools, structures and momentum needed to deliver climate action at all levels of government.
This matters because climate action in FSM needs to happen quickly and in a coordinated way. The workshops helped speed up delivery by making 3 important shifts:
- Turning policy into action: SMART work plans now outline clear, costed steps for key sectors like energy, water and transport, making it easier to plan and fund projects.
- Improving coordination: New governance structures have clarified roles and strengthened collaboration across state government departments and between national and state governments.
- Building ownership: Each state helped shape its own climate priorities, increasing commitment and ensuring actions reflect local needs and realities.
What’s Next
With the groundwork laid through the national and state-level NDC workshops, the DECEM will lead the next phase. Each state, alongside the national government, will move to finalise and operationalise the newly-established NDC Working Groups. With continued support from the CFCSP, technical advisers will be deployed to assist these groups with coordination, the implementation of state-specific SMART work plans, and the integration of climate action into sectoral budgets and development planning processes. The SMART work plans developed during the workshops are now regarded as living documents. These plans will not only guide climate action at the sectoral and state levels but also serve as technical inputs into FSM’s upcoming NDC 3.0 submission, supported by the Pacific Community through the NDC Hub. They will also ensure the updated commitment is grounded in state-led priorities and shaped by realistic, costed activities.
To sustain momentum and build longer-term climate readiness, DECEM has identified additional areas of support to be pursued in partnership with the CFCSP. These include:
- Recruitment of a national-level NDC Adviser to support the national NDC Working Group and state-level Technical Advisers and improve state/national level coordination of NDC priorities.
- Recruitment of 4 state-based NDC Technical Advisers to advance work from the workshops, including supporting the NDC Working Groups, and implementation of NDC work plans.