Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, the Ministry of Power and Energy Development, and the Scientific and Industrial Research and Development Centre (SIRDC), on Monday launched a comprehensive climate adaptation programme in Harare.
The initiative, which falls under the Low Temperature Evaporative Cooling System (LTEIHT-AC), is an innovative zero-emission cooling technology designed to provide sustainable and affordable temperature control in Zimbabwe’s increasingly warming climate.
Developed by Phokeng Global Health and Environmental Solutions and the Evaporative Cooling System, the model leverages atmospheric enthalpy and water evaporation to produce cooling effects without relying on electricity or ozone-depleting refrigerants.
According to UNDP Zimbabwe, the system was built using locally available materials, making it both environmentally friendly and economically accessible — offering a scalable solution to the country’s energy and climate resilience challenges.
“The Evaporative Cooling System Inception Meeting, held at UNDP’s Harare offices, marked a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s transition toward climate-resilient and energy-efficient technologies,” said the organisation.
The event brought together key stakeholders from Government, academia, the private sector, and development partners to discuss the system’s design, applications, and roadmap for national deployment.
It also served to formally introduce the prototype developed by Phokeng Global Health and Environmental Solutions to SIRDC, symbolising the transition from design to institutional adoption and field testing.
The technology will undergo pilot testing and performance monitoring in selected communities, with results expected to inform a wider national rollout.
UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Ayodele Odusola, said the initiative represents a practical example of climate innovation in Zimbabwe.
“This is a solution that not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions but also empowers communities through local manufacturing and skills development,” he said. “By investing in sustainable technologies like this, we are helping to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener, more resilient future.”
The system directly supports the National Climate Change Policy (2017), the Energy Efficiency Policy (2024), and Zimbabwe’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
In addition, it contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 9, and 13 — advancing access to clean energy, fostering innovation, and accelerating climate action.
