2025 - CLIMATE BRIEF

Southern Africa strengthens transfrontier conservation efforts

editor12 months ago12 months ago05 mins

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will commemorate 25 years of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) with a landmark International Conference and Summit of Heads of State and Government from 19–23 May 2025 in Zimbabwe. The event will reaffirm the region’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and cross-border environmental cooperation under the theme: “Transfrontier Conservation Areas—25…

Climate change takes increasingly extreme toll on African countries

editor12 months ago12 months ago05 mins

Africa experienced one of its hottest years on record in 2024, with average temperatures soaring approximately 0.86 °C above the 1991-2020 average, new data shows. According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the past decade has been the warmest on record for Africa. Highlighting Africa’s particular vulnerability to our warming planet,…

Zimbabwe launches National Carbon Registry in carbon market push

editor1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

Staff Writer The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife today launched the Zimbabwe Carbon Registry Pilot Launch, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to establish itself as a key player in the carbon market. The launch makes Zimbabwe the first country, worldwide, to establish a blockchain-based national carbon registry. The initiative is in…

Government calls for localisation of climate action

editor1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

The Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, has called for the localisation of climate action, noting that communities and actors are best placed to identify and implement the interventions needed to respond to their climate vulnerabilities. Speaking at the Utariri Day Celebration, Ndlovu also underscored the need to increase climate finance flows to…

IFAW fits elephants with GPS collars to mitigate human conflict

editor1 year ago1 year ago04 mins

Eight African savannah elephants roaming near Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park have been fitted with GPS-enabled satellite collars in a bid to reduce escalating human-elephant conflict in surrounding communities. The ten-day operation, a joint initiative between the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), supports the efforts by…

Science

‘Indigenous peoples sidelined in global climate fight’

editor1 year ago1 year ago010 mins

As the planet heats up and the push to decarbonise gathers pace, Indigenous Peoples – long among the world’s most effective environmental stewards – are once again being left behind, a new UN report reveals. Launched on Thursday, The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples exposes a stark imbalance: while Indigenous Peoples make up just six percent…

Science

Climate crisis driving surge in gender-based violence, UN study finds

editor1 year ago1 year ago07 mins

Without urgent action, climate change could be linked to one in every ten cases of intimate partner violence by the end of the century. That is the warning from a new issue brief by the UN Spotlight Initiative, which finds that climate change is intensifying the social and economic stresses that are fuelling increased levels of violence against…

Science

COP15 Ramsar Convention puts spotlight on Zimbabwe’s wetland conservation efforts

editor1 year ago11 months ago07 mins

FAO collaborates with the government to protect and restore critical ecosystems ©FAO/ Giulio Napolitano Zimbabwe is investing considerable effort to protect its valuable wetland resources as the globe prepares for the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Several wetlands of international significance, including the famous Victoria Falls, are located…

Zimbabwe leads Africa in climate plan submissions

editor1 year ago1 year ago05 mins

Staff Writer Zimbabwe has distinguished itself as the sole African nation to meet the February 10, 2025 deadline for submitting its updated national climate plan, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat. Parties to the Paris Climate Agreement are required to submit updated national climate…

Zimbabwean banks embrace sustainability amid climate crisis

editor1 year ago1 year ago03 mins

Staff Writer The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says the financial sector has made significant progress in integrating sustainability as climate-related disasters like droughts and floods intensify. The central bank said this comes as there is an increasing demand for banking institutions to effectively manage financial risks while playing an active role in promoting the…