Inclusive, people-centric and community climate action critical

Nothando Zondo and Taboka Tshuma, Sunday News Reporters

THE Africa Voluntary Carbon Credits Markets Forum (AVCCMF) has said inclusive, people-centric and community climate action were critical in addressing and ameliorating the devastating impact of climate change.

The reality of climate change on poor communities whose coping, resilience and adaptation capabilities are weak is increasing the severing of climate change and pilling excruciating pressure on the Government of Zimbabwe.

People-centered climate action through an inclusive process, is said will purposefully identify and unlock social and economic benefits, target these benefits to further equity, and ensure a just and well-managed transition away from a high-carbon economy.

Speaking at the Climate Change, Carbon Markets and Sustainability Indaba in Bulawayo AVCCMF executive director, Mr Anglistone Sibanda said as people embrace climate change it was important for them to also be aware of its causes.

“Climate change topics should be held in communities with ordinary people present because they are the ones who are mostly affected by its effects and are the ones who are in dire need of being educated about its causes and how to mitigate it,” he said.

“As much as we are embracing climate change let us also take time to educate ourselves about the causes of climate change, things like deforestation, burning of plastic and purchasing of cars that use too much oil, these are the same cars that are manufactured in Europe but get Sold in African countries and not in Europe. Flying of aircrafts that use too much oil also plays a big part in damaging the ozone layer and contributing to climate change.”

He said Zimbabwe was among the rest of the African countries that have done nothing wrong to the ozone layer where the total quantum of emissions remains below 4 percent of the global emissions and the developed countries have been the major polluters, creating catastrophic exacerbating situation and climate injustice.

Mr Sibanda said despite being a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Zimbabwe struggles due to restricted access to funding.

“The signing of the Paris Agreement opened an opportunity for developing countries to access Climate Finance through which they can fund their Coping, Resilience, Mitigation and Adaptation programmes to ameliorate the impact of climate change and stimulate sustainable development,” he added.

“Through Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, Zimbabwe stands to access funding under the Internationally Transferable Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) and use these funds to build capacities of the affected communities.”

“Notwithstanding the colossal opportunity presented by the Paris Agreement, most African countries, including Zimbabwe are yet to tap into Climate Finance under the Paris Agreement Framework owing to lack of appreciation on how the Paris Agreement Carbon trading mechanism works.”

Institute of Sustainability Development Finance director, Ms Veronica Jakarasi said that the Sadc Industrialisation Week (SIW) to take place from 28 July to 2 August came at the right time when the Zimbabwean Government was engaging in talks with different stakeholders in the industry of the energy sector.

She said: “Zimbabwe has made great strides in implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and it reflects commitment towards combating climate change through carbon pricing mechanisms, clean energy and sustainable agricultural practices.”

The two-day Indaba which came to an end on Thursday (today) was running under the theme: “Unpacking and Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Potential in the Climate Economy: Driving the Global Sustainability Agenda to build Climate Resilience.”