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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

BULAWAYO is set to host a two-day skeholders indaba to raise awareness on climate change, carbon markets and sustainability through opening finance lines.

The conference will be held on 17 and 18 July under the theme: “Unpacking and Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Potential in the Climate Economy: Driving the Global Sustainability Agenda to build Climate Resilience.”

It is being organised by the African Voluntary Carbon Credit Market Forum and co-hosted in partnership with Bulawayo City Council and the Bulawayo Economic Development Agency, and in Government through the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife.

The cofnerence seeks to among other issues,raise awareness on the Climate Finance, stimulate local level actions for tapping into the Climate Finance while shaping the policy discourse to enable the process of promulgation of the Climate Change Management Bill to be people centric, market responsible and progressive enough to stimulate win -win outcomes to trigger the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of Zimbabwe Vision 2030.

Focus is primarily on Matabeleland region and the three Matabeleland North provinces Ministers of State will attend. Five Ministers are expected to speak at the event.

These are Dr Anxious Masuka of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Daniel Garwe of National Housing and Social Amenities, Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu of Industry and Commerce, Professor Mthuli Ncube of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion and Edgar Moyo of Energy and Power Development There will also be several key partenrs and stakeholders to present.

Event organisers said the conference is a response to the adverse  impact of El Nino induced droughts ravaging communities whioch has seen Government declaring a state of disaster.

The reality of Climate Change on the poor communities whose coping, resilience and adaptation capacities are weak is increasing and putting excruciating pressure on Government despite the fact that Zimbabwe and the rest of African countries have done nothing wrong on the Ozone layer, with developed countries the major polluters.

Zimbabwe stands out as a conservation leader, dedicating at least 25 percent of its landmass to forestry and biodiversity preservation. This commitment aligns with Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which allows Zimbabwe to tap into billions of dollars from its natural resources.

“As communities are suffering, Matabeleland Provinces that are located in Climatic Regions 4 and 5 are most affected. This then calls for urgent interventions for mitigation, adaptation and resilience in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC), Conference of Parties (COP) negotiations, and the Paris Agreement that was signed in 2015.

“Despite being a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Zimbabwe struggles due to restricted access to funding. The signing of the Paris Agreement opened an opportunity for developing countries to access Climate Finance through which they can fund their coping, resilience, mitigation and adaptation programs to ameliorate the impact of Climate Change and stimulate Sustainable Development,” said the organisers.

Despite the opportunity presented by the Paris Agreement, most African countries, including Zimbabwe are yet to tap into Climate Finance under the Paris Agreement Framework.

Zimbabwe’s Climate Change Management Bill, with its nine principles, is a positive step, however, stakeholders must actively engage to bridge the information gap.

“A two-day conference could facilitate knowledge sharing and foster collaboration. As such, Africa Voluntary Carbon Credits Markets Forum (AVCCMF), a leading Civic Society organization that is driving the climate action agenda through people-centric approaches to accelerate Africa into the climate economy, working with its local and international Partners is organizing a Climate Change, Carbon Markets and Sustainability conference. This Conference seeks among other issues to raise awareness on the Climate Finance, stimulate local level actions for tapping into the Climate Finance while shaping the policy discourse to enable the process of promulgation of the Climate Change Management Bill to be people[1]centric, market responsible and progressive enough to stimulate win -win outcomes to trigger the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of Zimbabwe Vision 2030,” said the organisers.

The broad objective of the indaba is to unpack, unlock and unleash Zimbabwe’s potential in the climate economy towards Vision 2030.

It also seeks to create a general understanding among stakeholders on environmental sustainability frameworks, international standards and best practices and map the road to Global Net Zero Goals.

-@ncubeleon