Zimbabwe’s priorities for COP30

Staff Writer

Zimbabwe requires a minimum of US$29.3 billion to adapt and mitigate the climate crisis through 2035, a new report shows.

According to the country’s official position paper for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Zimbabwe is framing the upcoming summit as a critical moment for developed nations to meet their financial obligations under the Paris Agreement.

The Harare government, which currently contributes less than 0.05% to global greenhouse gas emissions, is leading the charge with the African Group of Negotiators, demanding that global climate finance be drastically ramped up to cover the costs of climate survival and resilient development.

The $29.3 Billion National Deficit

Zimbabwe’s position paper meticulously details its domestic financial requirements, emphasising that without this support, its ability to protect its citizens and economy is severely constrained.

A critical US$10.3 billion is required through 2030 to fully implement the Climate Change National Adaptation Plan (NAP). This funding is essential for safeguarding key sectors, including climate-smart agriculture, water security measures like supplementary irrigation, and climate-proofing vital infrastructure.

A further US$19 billion is needed through 2035 to execute the mitigation actions outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).

Zimbabwe stresses that this funding must be provided primarily as grant-based, predictable, and easily accessible finance, rejecting loans that further burden the national economy.

Global finance, pushing for trillions

Beyond its national needs, Zimbabwe is aggressively supporting the new collective global financial goals.

The delegation is demanding that developed countries meet the established NCQG target of US$300 billion per annum by 2035 and contribute toward the broader goal of mobilising US$1.3 trillion per annum in total international climate finance.

Just Transition

Zimbabwe calls for any decisions to be adopted at COP30 to be explicit on the provision of policy space and support in consideration of developing countries’ unique development circumstances and urgent needs, for example the energy gap.

The urgency of the financial demand is tied directly to Zimbabwe’s severe development challenges, particularly energy poverty. The country’s negotiation stance insists on policy space to utilise all forms of energy in the short to medium term to meet its development goals.

The paper sets a firm “red line” for the negotiations: any decision that attempts to shift the climate change mitigation burden onto developing nations, or does not accommodate the energy needs of fossil-fuel-dependent countries, will be opposed.

For Zimbabwe, a ‘Just Transition’ must first and foremost focus on eliminating energy poverty and securing a fair share of renewable energy investments.

Loss and Damage

Following the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28, Zimbabwe is now focused on ensuring the fund is fully operationalised and substantially capitalised with pledges that match the urgency and severity of climate impacts. The country calls for funds to cover not only immediate disaster relief but also the crucial medium- to long-term recovery efforts required to build more resilient communities.

Key demands beyond finance

Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA)

Zimbabwe demands that the mechanisms established under the GGA must ensure African countries have equitable representation and that resources are aligned with vulnerable nations’ specific adaptation needs.

The paper says the Global Goal on Adaptation has steadily made progress since COP26, when the Glasgow–Sharm El-Sheikh work programme was launched to raise ambition, action and support in response to growing adaptation needs and finance gaps, particularly in Africa.

COP27 initiated the development of the GGA Framework, which was adopted at COP28 with clear goals and targets. Building on this progress, COP29 advanced the UAE–Belém work programme on indicators focusing on adaptation impacts, planning, and implementation while underscoring finance and means of implementation as cross-cutting priorities.

“Zimbabwe continues to call for the urgent operationalisation of Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the Paris Agreement on the Means of Implementation, with a particular emphasis on finance that is grant-based, predictable and easily accessible,” the paper says.

While mitigation finance often attracts more resources, Zimbabwe stresses that adaptation finance must be scaled up significantly to reflect the realities of the most vulnerable communities, especially rural households, women, and youth who face disproportionate vulnerabilities.

In addition to finance, Zimbabwe underlines the importance of strengthening technology development and transfer (Article 10) and capacity-building (Article 11) in a manner that is country-driven and responsive to national priorities.

Africa’s Special Circumstances: The delegation will advocate for COP30 to officially launch work on considering Africa’s unique vulnerability and limited capacity under the Paris Agreement.

Carbon Markets (Article 6): In a move aimed at boosting African capacity, Zimbabwe is proposing that the residual resources of the old Clean Development Mechanism Trust Fund be redirected to the new Article 6.4 Supervisory Body and the Adaptation Fund.