Education key to combating climate change – Minister

Nesia Mhaka

Herald Correspondent

Education is effective in combating climate change and influencing social change in communities, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu said last week.

Speaking during the launch of four documents aligned with the National Development Strategy 1 (2021-25) thematic area on “Environment Protection, Climate Resilience and Natural Resources Management” on Friday last week in Harare he said climate education was necessary in sharpening and informing decision-making at various levels.

The four documents are: the National Climate Change Learning Strategy, Climate Change Main-streaming Module for Development Planning, National Adaptation Planning Process Communication Strategy and Green Climate Fund Country Programme.

The compilation of the documents was made possible with funding from the UNDP Zimbabwe country office and the Green Climate Fund.

Minister Ndlovu said the documents resonated well with President Mnangagwa’s speech at Climate Action Summit in December last year where he stressed the need for long-term strategies to guide the transition towards green and climate resilient economies.

Climate education was an important constituent that Zimbabweans cannot afford to ignore especially as it addresses the impacts of climate change. The Green Climate Fund allows the nation to tap into economies of scale and access more funds as well as to partner with a wider range of potential stakeholders in a transparent manner.

Speaking at the same event, director of the United Nations for Training and Research Mr Angus Mackay said climate education was central in addressing climate challenges and clearly articulated how to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

“What countries are increasingly realising is that this is no longer good enough a response in the face of the challenges of climate change,” he said. “Societies need more protection than this and it begins with building climate change literacy at all levels, particularly so that our children and our young people can be better prepared for their future.”

In a speech read on his behalf by the deputy resident representative (programmes) Ms Madelena Monoja, UNDP resident representative Mr Georges van Montfort said the documents launched were in line with the sustainable development agenda.

“It is our belief that the implementation of these strategies will go a long way in addressing issues of inclusivity and leaving no one behind as the nation strives to achieve its long-term goal of being a low carbon and climate resilient nation as well as achieving the vision 2030.

“The launch of these important documents comes at a critical juncture for Zimbabwe as the country has developed a five-year National Development Strategy that has a pillar focusing on climate change and other environmental and natural resource management issues.

“Furthermore, the UNDS in Zimbabwe is drafting its 2022-2026 UNSDCF that outlines key priority areas for the UN engagement with the Government in support of the NDS1 and environmental protection, climate resilience and natural resource management, has been identified as a priority in the UNCF.”

UNDP is also developing its 2022-2016 Country Programme Document in which climate change, environment and natural resources management is prominently featured as an important area of intervention.