By Maricho Reporter
Zimbabwe has developed proposals on costed economy-wide Low Emission Development Strategy as a response to the provisions of the Paris Agreement of 2015 on Climate Change.
The Mid-Century Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategy 2020-2050 was presented to Cabinet by Local Government and Public Works the Minister July Moyo, as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Disaster Prevention and Management.
The Strategy, which is Vision 2030 compliant, and contains implementable sustainable climate change mitigation actions, covering four (4) sectors of the economy, namely:
- Energy;
- Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU);
- Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU); and
- Waste Management.
Briefing journalists after a cabinet session in Harare, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the “country has done a lot more in terms of carbon sinking through the various afforestation and reforestation programmes, conservation agriculture (Pfumvudza/Intwasa) and emitting less on its growth trajectory towards Vision 2030”.
“The implementation of renewable energy projects in the country and use of more efficient low emission technologies in thermal power plants reflects Government’s commitment towards reduction in emissions,” said Mutsvangwa.
The draft LEDS has identified 38 mitigation actions across the four Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) recognised sectors, and implementation of the mitigation actions will result in 40% reduction in emissions. Zimbabwe is currently emitting 0,05% of all green house emissions which is lower than what the country is capturing.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to attend the Conference of Parties (COP 26) meeting in the United Kingdom where he will lead a Zimbabwean delegation and present the country’s mitigation measures and adaptation actions.
Zimbabwe is a member of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), whose major objective is the stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These gases contribute to climate change. This objective is being fulfilled through the Paris Agreement of 2015 on Climate Change, which mandates all countries to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Each country is required to set itself targets as to how it proposes to reduce emissions and these targets are then reviewed every five years.
The major thrust of developing Low Emission Development Strategies by UNFCCC member countries is to shift from the traditional fossil fuel-based development to greener and sustainable pathways, including enhanced use of renewable energy, and the adoption of green industries and climate smart agriculture.
