Online Reporter
Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE is set to establish a National Climate Fund as part of its comprehensive Climate Change Management Bill, recently gazetted. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen the country’s response to climate change by creating a dedicated funding mechanism for climate-related projects and programmes.
The Bill, which has been in development for several months, aligns national policy with Zimbabwe’s international obligations under the Paris Agreement.
It seeks to consolidate fragmented climate policies into a unified legal framework, enhancing transparency and co-ordination across sectors.
The financial model for the National Climate Fund is designed to be self-sustaining, drawing from a variety of domestic sources. According to the Bill, revenue will be generated from 15 percent of climate change levies, 25 percent of the carbon tax, 25 percent of the tobacco levy, and 85 percent of proceeds from carbon trading. This structure establishes a direct link between emissions reduction efforts and funding for climate initiatives.
The creation of the Fund responds to Zimbabwe’s increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events such as droughts, floods and cyclones. To ensure public trust and accountability, the Bill mandates strict financial oversight. The Department of Climate Change Management will publish details of all funded projects, including income and expenditure. Additionally, the Auditor-General will conduct annual audits, with findings presented to Parliament.
The legislation also focuses on enhancing climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. It introduces measures to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve data sharing, and establish a system for the measurement, reporting and verification of emissions.
The Bill includes provisions to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances and integrate climate change considerations into national development planning across all levels of Government.
The Climate Change Management Department will lead the national response, operating under the ministry responsible for climate change. It will co-ordinate all climate policies, strategies and actions, reporting directly to the Minister.
The department will be headed by a director and supported by deputy directors specialising in adaptation, mitigation, and carbon trading. Operations will be decentralised to provincial and district levels to ensure nationwide implementation.
The department will also serve as the central repository for climate change information, enforce monitoring and reporting requirements, and spearhead the mobilisation of climate and carbon finance. It may collaborate with the education sector to integrate climate change into school curricula and promote public awareness.
Several specialised units will be established to tackle specific climate-related challenges. The Climate Transparency and Compliance Unit (CTCU) will be responsible for collecting, archiving, and sharing data on greenhouse gas emissions, overseeing national climate reporting, and enforcing compliance with emission standards.
The National Ozone Unit will implement regulations concerning ozone-depleting substances and manage their phase-down. The Loss and Damage Unit will focus on gathering data on climate-related disasters, formulating recovery plans, and mobilising resources for affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Carbon Trading Unit, operating as the Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority, will oversee carbon trading projects, maintain a national registry, and promote carbon market mechanisms.
In collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency, the department will establish a National Emissions Trading System. This system will set GHG emission thresholds, requiring entities that exceed these limits to purchase carbon credits or pay a levy as outlined in the Finance Act.
Non-compliance may result in fines of up to level 14, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. Appointed officers will be empowered to monitor compliance, enter premises, and issue orders to prevent harm to the climate or ozone layer.
