adminTanaka Mahanya and Paidamoyo Bore
UNITED NATIONS resident and humanitarian coordinator in Zimbabwe, Edward Kallon, has called for climate-sensitive developmental programmes and projects to address the devastating impact of climate change on livelihoods in the country.
Speaking during World Environment Day celebrations yesterday, Kallon noted that climate change was causing unpredictable weather phenomena and global warming.
This was leading to droughts, floods, cyclones, and disease outbreaks and pandemics, which had caused damages of over US$1 trillion and affected four billion people since 1990.
Kallon said that unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems by human activities, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic, had exacerbated the devastation.
“The negative impact of climate change is not new to Zimbabwe and these challenges beg for different and innovative approaches to ensure social and physical infrastructures are built to withstand any foreseeable external shocks,” he said.
“Government, the UN, non-governmental organisations, and other partners must include youth in planning, implementing, and reviewing environmental programmes.
“It is my sincere hope that the youth will turn around the catastrophic consequences of plastic with over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide and over 2 000 garbage trucks full of plastic dumped into our water bodies.
“The United Nations System in Zimbabwe remains committed and understands the urgency of today to adapt and ensure environmental sustainability for current and future generations to thrive and achieve their aspirations.”
World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5 to continue raising awareness and solutions to protect the environment.
This year’s World Environment Day was celebrated under the theme ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution: Beat Plastic Pollution, to raise awareness of the consequences of plastic pollution’.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter