Minister calls for climate change levy

Herald Reporter
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has implored African governments to levy multi-lateral companies for contributing to climate change and channel the money into a common fund to address the effects. Speaking during the High Level Segment of the Africa Climate Talks (ACT) for the East, Southern and Indian Ocean African Small Island Developing States (SIDs) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania over the weekend, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe would like to drive a motion that will call for Africa to establish a regionally common mid-and-long term vision to be shared by African countries and their development partners.

“This should be based on the ownership of African countries’ natural resources. A levy could be charged especially to multi-lateral companies who have historically caused climate change on all exported extractive natural resources, and the funds put into a common fund for adaptation in Africa,” she said.

“After which then we could talk of strategies that can achieve results that promote sustainable and comprehensive economic growth.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the Green Climate Fund and other climate funding should not be subject to further stringent conditions, complexities and clauses which make the funds difficult to access.

She said the funds should not be seen as a way of furthering developed countries’ business interests at the expense of genuine climate resilience to those who need it most.

“We call on developed countries to increase their ambition to cut dangerous gases that cause climate change,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri. “Noting that Africa’s main challenges are development-oriented, we would like the global community to realise that climate change presents us with development challenges.

“Accepting that Africa is discovering resources such as coal, gas and oil, we are guided by the continent’s Vision 2063 on development.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said research was critical to adequately address climate change, as evidenced by the progress which was being made by countries which have heavily invested in research, some to the extent of committing up to 10 percent of their Gross Domestic Product.