Staff Writer
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for homegrown climate solutions, citing that climate change poses a significant threat to Zimbabwe’s economic development.
Speaking at the 2024 Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference, Mnangagwa highlighted the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation plans to protect nations from the growing climate crisis.
“Climate change impacts and natural disasters are exerting major risks that require adaptation and mitigation plans to protect economies and citizens from the climate chaos of today and tomorrow. It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to promote home-grown solutions for mitigation and adaptation in order to foster consensus and inclusivity,” he said.
Mnangagwa called for the scaling up of research and development, which is essential in developing efficient and climate-sensitive technologies and processes.
The conference is held under the theme “Building resilience and driving economic transformation under climate change.”
The President highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-carbon emitting countries like Zimbabwe.
“It is discouraging that the impacts of climate change are more pronounced in low-carbon emitting countries such as Zimbabwe, with the vulnerable struggling to deal with the impacts of a climate crisis they never created,” Mnangagwa said.
He said the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods and cyclones, among others continue to have profound effects on Zimbabwe and the region as a whole.
Zimbabwe, in particular, has experienced a surge in the frequency and severity of climate-related events such as droughts, floods, and cyclones.
“The frequency and severity of these events pose a significant threat to our economic growth, agricultural productivity and overall well-being. This underlines the urgent need to find sustainable solutions to address these challenges and build resilience in our communities.,” he said.
Mnangagwa highlighted that Zimbabwe has initiated measures to upscale the potential of agriculture after realizing the impact of climate change on food security.
“As a country, we have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% per capita by 2023, and this will have a genuine impact on the fight against climate change by achieving Nationally Determined Contributions much quicker,” he said.
The President said this goal will require significant investments in renewable energy infrastructure, afforestation, and sustainable forestry management.
He highlighted that transitioning to a low-carbon economy necessitates the adoption of green technologies and energy-efficient practices.
