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Sikhulekelani [email protected]
A HOLISTIC approach to information dissemination and financing of climate-smart projects in Zimbabwe is critical to ensure many people participate in initiatives to fight climate change, experts have said.
Speaking during the Climate Change Carbon Credits and Sustainability Indaba in Bulawayo yesterday, Professor Tabani Ndlovu from Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates said there are some challenges which are affecting individuals and companies when it comes to investing in climate-smart projects.
He said the lack of finance and relevant infrastructure has also affected many of the climate-smart ideas, which can turn into productive projects.
“Some of the challenges include knowledge gaps, a lot of communities are into poultry production, but they don’t know that they can use chicken manure to produce biogas,” said Prof Ndlovu.
He suggested that the Government should incentivise climate-smart projects, where developers can be assisted in importing equipment needed for the projects.
Bulawayo hosted a two-day Climate Change Carbon Markets and Sustainability Indaba which ended yesterday where deliberations were made on how Zimbabwe can tap into carbon markets, which can be used to finance climate smart projects.
The event was running under the theme: ” Unpacking and Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Potential in the Climate Economy: Driving the Global Sustainability Agenda to Build Climate Resilience.”
The indaba was organised by Africa Voluntary Carbon Credits Market Forum (AVCCMF), Bulawayo City Council and Bulawayo Economic Development Agency in partnership with offices of the three provinces from the Matabeleland region, which are the Ministry of State from Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, South and Bulawayo Metropolitan Province.
The event was meant to unpack issues on climate change and climate finance and to establish how Zimbabwe can play a role in terms of being an active player in climate action to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions as well as tapping into the climate finance that was created by the Paris Agreement.
Prof Ndlovu said proper infrastructure is required so that individuals and companies that have managed to install solar they can also be able to put excess power to the national grid.
In an interview, AVCCMF executive director Mr Anglistone Sibanda said there are a lot of negotiations and lobbying that need to be done to increase investments in climate-smart projects which will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
He said charging US$50 000 for the registration of these projects is not sustainable taking into consideration that everyone including rural communities and youths has to participate in climate action.
“The reason why the ministry had to come up with a ban on carbon credits projects was after the realisation that some people were doing carbon looting, but now the environment has changed, charging young people who are collecting plastics US$50 000 to register a project is unjust as it is hindering progress and inhibitive to climate action,” said Mr Sibanda.
“We are going to have a lot of engagements with the Ministry of Environment to make sure that those charges are reviewed downwards to enable the participation of communities because Article 6,4 of the Paris Agreement allows young people, groups and communities to participate in the climate action and accrue carbon credits.
“However, we are happy that the Ministry of Environment is aligning Zimbabwe to the Paris Agreement and one of the things that need to happen in that alignment process is to review the registration fees and make the registration easy.”