adminJeffrey Gogo Climate Story
THE concept of the green economy has now become inseparable with sustainable development in a time of climate change.
But, how does the green economy work? Before attempting a response to this question, it is important to first understand what it is that makes an economy green.
The green economy, as defined by the UN Environment Programme, is one which results in improved human well-being and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.
In other words, the green economy is one that promotes and encourages sustainable development. It is an economy with significantly reduced carbon footprint, which is also resource and energy efficient as well as socially inclusive.
In simple terms, therefore, the green economy works by turning everything green.
That is, it is concerned with arresting the economic processes, which churn out greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane gas in vast, unsustainable quantities.
These are the gases, which have caused and continue to fuel climate change whose deadly impacts are now there for all to see; from extreme, frequent heat waves, droughts and floods to global temperature increases of nearly one degree Celsius since the early 1900s. The green economy prioritises people and the planet. The way that people eat and how goods are produced matter.
Both processes must occur in a manner that limits environmental pollution. But in all this, businesses must remain profitable, people should secure employment and economies grow. Equity is key in the green economy and should reflect socially, economically and environmentally.
Meteorological Services Department senior meteorologist (climate change division) Mr Elisha Moyo says the green economy is made possible by sensitisation of all peoples on the importance of climate resilience in development planning.
That may involve building structures, which can withstand the anticipated increase in strong winds or increasing temperature extremes.
“This has to be backed by formulation of policies, legal instruments and enforcement mechanisms that are climate resilient, he explained.
Mr Moyo warned that the implementation of the green economy must be done with care lest it pushed back development or slowed it down.
Whatever mitigation options taken will have to be implemented in such a way that it does not slow economic growth be it through unemployment or reduced industrial production.
Has the green economy been working in Zimbabwe?
As a developing country, Zimbabwe has managed to put in place a variety of measures, including legislation to encourage sustainable development.
The country is also party to international treaties such as the Ramsar Convention and the Kyoto Protocol that promote environmentally responsible and sustainable development. However, a lot of environmental crimes are still being committed on a colossal scale in Zimbabwe.
Recently, 100 elephants died at Hwange National Park after drinking poisoned water laced by poachers with cyanide, a deadly industrial chemical. Most environmental crimes are poorly punished or never prosecuted.
The Environmental Impact Assessments, a law compelling all major development projects (such as mining, infrastructure construction) to carry out studies for environmental implications prior commencement, plays a very important role in the protection of the environment and in expanding the green economy.
The biggest challenge for Zimbabwe, however, is balancing green growth with economic development. Most of the economic prosperity seen in the Western world today was achieved through an explosive use of fossil fuels like coal, which are mainly responsible for causing climate change and global warming.
Achieving the green economy at a scale that is desirable, a scale capable of limiting greenhouse gas emissions in an effective manner will require the country to play an important but difficult balancing act.
Many things will need to be considered. Mr Moyo said the country will need to up research on and implementation of clean energy options such as hydro and solar.
This also means that Government ought to create incentives for cleaner energy and green economic practices as well as demystify the widespread beliefs that quality and clean energy is expensive. Zimbabwe also needs to invest in climate-resilient planning and improving the national capacity especially in buildings’ energy efficiency such as cooling, heating and lighting, Moyo said.
It should make use of realistic future climate scenarios when planning and not rely solely on historical climate information since the past no longer has a linear relationship with the future in a changing climate.
God is faithful.
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