Staff Writer
Zimbabwe’s ambitious target of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 through a green energy revolution is facing headwinds, according to a new assessment.
The Southern African nation has been banking on its National Renewable Energy and Biofuels Policies to drive this transformation.
However, an evaluation commissioned by the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency has revealed a stark reality – achieving these lofty goals might be more challenging than anticipated.
The assessment found that while the policies set ambitious targets for renewable energy production and job creation, practical limitations and barriers could significantly hinder progress.
“The data clearly showed that Zimbabwe’s ambitious energy policies on their own did not guarantee success in achieving the national climate goals,” the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency said after a study it supported Zimbabwe to achieve the results presented here through tailored country projects to enhance climate transparency based on national priorities.
“Using the results of these assessments, Zimbabwe is undertaking a comprehensive review of these policies in 2024, in conjunction with the process of updating its Nationally Determined Contribution.”
The study indicates that only about half of the targeted renewable energy production is realistically achievable. Moreover, job creation projections have been halved, with the potential for only 20,900 new green jobs by 2030.
These findings have prompted Zimbabwe to re-evaluate its energy policies. The government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of these policies, aligning them with the upcoming update of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
The NDC is a key climate action plan submitted by countries to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Zimbabwe’s revised energy policies are expected to inform its updated NDC, which will be submitted in 2025. By bridging the gap between aspiration and reality, the country aims to restore its trajectory towards a sustainable energy sector.
