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# CLIMATE BRIEF

Science-based insights on a changing planet

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## Posts

- [‘El Niño threatens 2.2 million livestock in Zimbabwe’](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/20/el-nino-threatens-2-2-million-livestock-in-zimbabwe/) - Staff Writer Authorities say more than 2.2 million cattle in Zimbabwe are projected to be at risk from drought in 2027, prompting the government to expand livestock mitigation measures as the country prepares for a predicted El Niño. The government estimates that 2,236,203 cattle could be affected, according to the Acting Minister of Information Paul
- [Zimbabwe targets 16 million Pfumvudza plots amid El Niño threat](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/20/zimbabwe-targets-16-million-pfumvudza-plots-amid-el-nino-threat/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe is targeting 16 million Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation farming plots in the 2026/27 agricultural season as the country prepares for a predicted super El Niño that could threaten crop production. According to Cabinet, 7,6 million plots had been established, representing 47.52% of the target and covering 475,203 hectares. The programme's expansion is part of
- [Zimbabwe prepares for predicted El Niño as drought risks mount](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/20/zimbabwe-prepares-for-predicted-el-nino-as-drought-risks-mount/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe is stepping up preparations for the 2026/27 agricultural season, with the government warning that a predicted El Niño and rising fuel and fertiliser costs could threaten agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods. Cabinet approved an updated 2026/27 Summer Plan incorporating the Drought Plan on Tuesday, as authorities seek to strengthen the
- [COP17 opens in Armenia to advance global biodiversity, conservation goals](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/19/cop17-opens-in-armenia-to-advance-global-biodiversity-conservation-goals/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe’s biodiversity conservation priorities will come into focus as the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) begins today, advancing international cooperation to protect ecosystems and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. Delegates from 196 Parties have gathered in Yerevan, Armenia, for the first major global review
- [Zambezi River Authority cuts 2027 Kariba water allocation amid looming El Niño drought](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/15/zambezi-river-authority-cuts-2027-kariba-water-allocation-amid-looming-el-nino-drought/) - Staff Reporter The Zambezi River Authority has reduced water allocations for power generation at the Kariba Dam for the upcoming year, citing intensifying El Niño conditions and forecasts for a severe dry spell. The bilateral organisation, jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, approved a combined water allocation of 23 billion cubic metres
- [Zimbabwe builds US$500 million El Niño defence fund](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/14/zimbabwe-builds-us500-million-el-nino-defence-fund/) - Bongi Khumalo Treasury says Zimbabwe is setting up a US$500 million El Niño protection fund to prepare for potential drought during the 2026/27 agricultural season. Addressing a virtual press conference at the ongoing 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Annual Meetings, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, George Guvamatanga said the fund
- [Zimbabwe secures US$5.4 million irrigation grant](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/14/zimbabwe-secures-us5-4-million-irrigation-grant/) - Bongi Khumalo Zimbabwe has secured a US$5.4 million grant from China to fund nine irrigation schemes spanning nearly 1,600 hectares across six provinces, advancing efforts to safeguard domestic food production against worsening climate risks. The agreement, signed Tuesday, aligns with Strategic Pillar 3 of the government's Six-Pillar Drought Response Plan. Under this framework, Treasury and
- [Farmers warned against early planting ahead of dry season](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/10/farmers-warned-against-early-planting-ahead-of-dry-season/) - Bongi Khumalo Authorities have warned farmers against planting too early after recent isolated rainfall, cautioning that early sowing risks severe crop failure as below-normal rainfall forecasts loom over the 2026/27 farming season. The warning was issued during a meeting of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) Agriculture, Food, Climate, and Environment Thematic Working Group where
- [UN calls for accelerated climate action ahead of COP31 summit](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/09/un-calls-for-accelerated-climate-action-ahead-of-cop31-summit/) - As world leaders prepare for November’s major COP31 climate summit in Türkiye, record-breaking heat, devastating floods and an unprecedented El Niño climate pattern are making global climate action ever more urgent. Ahead of the summit, leaders gathered for a pre-conference in the South Pacific this week to prepare for the intense negotiations to come and set the
- [EU, IFAD launch €14m programme to strengthen climate-resilient horticulture in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/08/eu-ifad-launch-e14m-programme-to-strengthen-climate-resilient-horticulture-in-zimbabwe/) - Bongi Khumalo The European Union and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a €14 million programme to help smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe adopt climate-resilient horticultural practices amid increasing water scarcity and climate pressures. The Agroecological Transitions for Horticulture in Arid Zones (ATHAZ) programme will support farmers in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana to
- [What is El Niño and why does it matter to Zimbabwe?](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/05/what-is-el-nino-and-why-does-it-matter-to-zimbabwe/) - When Zimbabweans hear that El Niño is coming, one of the first concerns is often drought. That concern is understandable. El Niño events have been associated with below-normal rainfall across parts of southern Africa, including Zimbabwe. But El Niño is not a drought. It is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that can influence weather patterns
- [Why drought preparedness matters before the crisis hits?](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/06/why-drought-preparedness-matters-before-the-crisis-hits/) - Zimbabwe is establishing a single coordination platform and investment pipeline to translate climate early warnings into funded action on the ground ahead of the 2026/27 farming season. This comes as forecasts warn of an 88–94% likelihood of El Niño during the 2026/27 rainy season, alongside a 65% probability of below-normal rainfall. In response, the government,
- [Extreme heat a growing threat to pregnancy, newborn health](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/07/extreme-heat-a-growing-threat-to-pregnancy-newborn-health/) - Extreme heat is increasingly affecting the health of pregnant women and newborns, with a new survey finding that maternal healthcare professionals are seeing more heat-related cases and complications. The survey, commissioned by Wellcome and covering 1,000 maternal healthcare professionals across Australia, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, found that 73% of respondents reported an
- [Masvingo hailstorm declared state of disaster](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/07/masvingo-hailstorm-declared-state-of-disaster/) - …as thousands of households suffer extensive damage The government has declared a State of Disaster in Masvingo after a hailstorm caused widespread damage to homes, public infrastructure, and businesses, underscoring local communities’ growing vulnerability to extreme weather events. President Emmerson Mnangagwa made the declaration under Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act [Chapter 10:06], following
- [Passing cloud system brings hailstorms, heavy rainfall across Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/06/passing-cloud-system-brings-hailstorms-heavy-rainfall-across-zimbabwe/) - Heavy downpours, high winds, and severe hailstorms swept across several parts of Zimbabwe after a passing cloud system originating from Botswana moved over the region, official weather reports show. According to data released by the Meteorological Services Department (MSD), significant rainfall amounts were logged across the western and southern provinces. The highest rainfall was recorded
- [Why early warnings matter when severe weather strikes?](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/06/why-early-warnings-matter-when-severe-weather-strikes/) - Severe weather can develop quickly, leaving communities with little time to respond. But timely and accurate warnings can give people a critical window to protect lives, property and livelihoods. The severe hailstorm that struck parts of Masvingo on Monday night, damaging homes, vehicles and infrastructure and forcing some families to seek temporary shelter, is a
- [Hailstorm damages Masvingo homes, infrastructure](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/06/hailstorm-damages-masvingo-homes-infrastructure/) - A severe hailstorm that struck parts of Masvingo on Monday night damaged homes, vehicles and critical infrastructure, leaving some families without shelter and forcing Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) to postpone its graduation ceremony. Masvingo Mayor Councillor Aleck Tabe said the storm caused extensive damage to residential properties, with roofs blown off and windows, windowpanes and
- [Treasury targets climate-resilient budget to counter El Niño shocks](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/05/treasury-targets-climate-resilient-budget-to-counter-el-nino-shocks/) - Treasury says the upcoming national budget will be anchored on a six-pillar climate-proofing strategy to buffer the domestic economy against severe El Niño weather patterns. Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube said mitigating environmental and external vulnerabilities is crucial to preserving Zimbabwe's target macroeconomic trajectory. “The budget will articulate ways to climate-proof the economy with a
- [Zimbabwe mandates ESG scores for tobacco supply chain in 2026/27 season](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/05/zimbabwe-mandates-esg-scores-for-tobacco-supply-chain-in-2026-27-season/) - The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has introduced mandatory environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance requirements across Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector for the 2026/27 season, linking contractor and merchant licensing directly to verified sustainability metrics. The regulatory shift comes as the nation’s tobacco harvest reached a record 359.1 million kilograms in 2026 under the Tobacco
- [WFP calls for immediate action as El Niño threatens Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/10/02/wfp-calls-for-immediate-action-as-el-nino-threatens-zimbabwe/) - Staff Writer The World Food Programme (WFP) has called for immediate anticipatory measures over the next three months as Zimbabwe faces potential economic and social disruptions from a forecasted El Niño event. Speaking during a media briefing in Harare, WFP Country Director for Zimbabwe Barbara Clemens warned that historically severe El Niño cycles bring below-normal
- [Unseasonal rain system to bring downpours, lightning, strong winds nationwide](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/09/27/unseasonal-rain-system-to-bring-downpours-lightning-strong-winds-nationwide/) - Staff Writer The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe says a cool, moist air mass will bring widespread rain, strong winds, thunder, and lightning across all provinces from Tuesday to Thursday. The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said atmospheric conditions across Zimbabwe are set to shift sharply as cool, moist south-easterly winds interact with a mid-level weather
- [Government warns of severe drought risks ahead of 2026/27 farming season](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/09/11/government-warns-of-severe-drought-risks-ahead-of-2026-27-farming-season/) - The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has warned of a severe drought threat driven by a persisting El Niño event that is expected to disrupt the upcoming farming season and compromise national food and water security. Officially presenting the 2026/27 Seasonal Rainfall Outlook, Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, underscored the strategic
- [Zimbabwe validates draft NDC 3.0 climate plan](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/09/07/zimbabwe-validates-draft-ndc-3-0-climate-plan/) - The Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife has convened key domestic and international partners to validate the country’s draft Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), marking a critical step in the ongoing climate change response and commitment to global climate action. The validation workshop serves as the final technical and consultative checkpoint for the 2026–2035 climate
- [Millions at risk in Southern Africa as El Niño threatens widespread drought](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/31/millions-at-risk-in-southern-africa-as-el-nino-threatens-widespread-drought/) - Millions of people across Southern Africa are facing severe food insecurity, malnutrition, and water shortages as a rapidly intensifying El Niño threatens to trigger widespread drought and heat stress during the upcoming 2026/27 agricultural season, a new report shows. According to an emergency preparedness alert released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
- [Zimbabwe assumes chairmanship of UNCCD Africa Group](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/28/zimbabwe-assumes-chairmanship-of-unccd-africa-group/) - Zimbabwe has officially assumed the chairmanship of the African Group at the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), taking on a two-year leadership tenure as the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) concluded in Mongolia. Zimbabwe’s term will run through to the conclusion of COP18 in Egypt in 2028. As part
- [Southern Africa faces hotter, drier 2026/27 rainy season driven by strong El Niño](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/28/southern-africa-faces-hotter-drier-2026-27-rainy-season-driven-by-strong-el-nino/) - Southern Africa will face widespread dry conditions and above-average temperatures during the 2026/27 rainy season, as a rapidly strengthening El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean suppresses regional rainfall, a latest regional climate outlook shows. The forecast was released by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), following the Thirty-Third Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum
- [RBZ formulates green finance framework](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/20/rbz-formulates-green-finance-framework/) - The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is advancing the development of a national Green Taxonomy Framework aimed at channelling capital toward environmentally sustainable economic activities and standardising green finance practices across the banking sector. The framework is designed to establish a common classification system for environmentally sustainable projects, mitigating risks of greenwashing and facilitating the
- [Zimbabwe advances global land restoration, drought resilience at COP17](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/19/zimbabwe-advances-global-land-restoration-drought-resilience-at-cop17/) - Zimbabwe is attending the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to tackle escalating crises in land degradation, desertification, and climate-induced drought. The Conference officially commenced on 17 August and will run through 28 August 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Convened under the overarching global
- [Zimbabwe expands ARC drought insurance to strengthen climate readiness](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/18/zimbabwe-expands-arc-drought-insurance-to-strengthen-climate-readiness/) - Zimbabwe has formally approved two major international agreements to strengthen its national climate resilience and drought risk financing framework through the African Risk Capacity (ARC). In a post-Cabinet briefing, the government said it ratified a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the global non-profit Start Network. The agreement establishes a partnership under the ARC Replica Programme,
- [Zimbabwe to launch the National Early Warnings for All Initiative](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/08/16/zimbabwe-to-launch-the-national-early-warnings-for-all-initiative/) - The Meteorological Services Department will launch Zimbabwe’s National Early Warnings for All Action Plan this week, establishing a comprehensive framework to protect citizens nationwide from escalating climate and weather-related disasters. The strategy translates a global United Nations directive into an operational national plan designed to guarantee that every citizen, regardless of location or vulnerability, receives
- [Zimbabwe ramps up climate-proofing focus amid El Niño threat](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/07/30/zimbabwe-ramps-up-climate-proofing-focus-amid-el-nino-threat/) - Bongi Khumalo Zimbabwe has intensified preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 agricultural season, putting climate resilience and contingency planning at the centre of its strategy to buffer the sector against forecasted El Niño climate-related risks. In his 2026 Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, Minister of Finance, Mthuli Ncube, said the government has adopted a comprehensive preparedness
- [TIMB pushes for diversification to shield farmers from El Niño risks](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/07/22/timb-pushes-for-diversification-to-shield-farmers-from-el-nino-risks/) - Bongi Khumalo The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has called on farmers to integrate climate-resilient diversification strategies into their operations as the country prepares for a potentially challenging 2026/27 agricultural season. Forecasts from the Meteorological Services Department indicate a strong likelihood of below-normal rainfall during the upcoming season, raising severe climate risks associated with
- [Zimbabwe issues early warning to farmers as El Niño heightens drought risk](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/07/15/zimbabwe-issues-early-warning-to-farmers-as-el-nino-heightens-drought-risk/) - Bongi Khumalo The Ministry of Agriculture has called on farmers nationwide to step up drought preparations across all agricultural sectors as developing El Niño conditions heighten the risk of a dry season. In an early warning advisory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development called on producers to implement protective measures before conditions
- [Econet InfraCo begins 100MW solar farm construction to drive energy resilience](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/07/21/econet-infraco-begins-100mw-solar-farm-construction-to-drive-energy-resilience/) - Bongi Khumalo Econet Infrastructure Company (Econet InfraCo) has commenced Phase 1 of a 100MW solar farm development, marking a strategic pivot toward clean energy and grid independence across its assets. The solar farm, developed under the group’s PowerCo division, will supply clean power to the upcoming Econet Tech City development. The initiative forms part of
- [El Niño risk could slash Zimbabwe growth to 2%, IMF warns](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/07/08/el-nino-risk-could-slash-zimbabwe-growth-to-2-imf-warns/) - Staff Writer The International Monetary Fund says a projected El Niño weather event could slow Zimbabwe’s economic momentum, potentially reducing its baseline 2027 growth forecast from 4.2 percent to a range of 2 to 3 percent. The warning follows a mission to Harare by IMF staff to conduct the first review under the country’s 10-month
- [ZESA targets 500MW solar expansion amid climate shocks](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/28/zesa-targets-500mw-solar-expansion-amid-climate-shocks/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe is accelerating investments in renewable energy, with plans to develop 500 megawatts of solar capacity across 10 sites nationwide amid climate change-induced generation shortages. ZESA’s acting chief executive Cletus Nyachowe said this comes as climate change continues to present a significant hydrological risk to hydroelectric generation. “In years of reduced rainfall, water
- [SADC strengthens disaster recovery readiness and climate finance access](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/15/sadc-strengthen-recovery-readiness-and-access-climate-finance/) - Staff Writer Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States are meeting in Lilongwe to build consensus on accessing climate disaster money from the Loss and Damage Fund. The SADC Regional Dialogue on Loss and Damage comes at a critical time for Southern Africa. The region continues to experience increasingly frequent and severe droughts, floods and
- [SADC pushes for climate-resilient infrastructure to boost regional connectivity](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/26/sadc-pushes-for-climate-resilient-infrastructure-to-boost-regional-connectivity/) - Staff Writer Southern African nations are moving to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their infrastructure planning to safeguard the region’s transport corridors, airports, and communication networks from extreme weather events. Southern African Development Community (SADC) officials warned that escalating floods, severe droughts, and intense cyclones are threatening vital regional logistics loops have shifted the focus
- [Climate-resilient farming helps communities in Zimbabwe reclaim food security in the face of drought](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/15/climate-resilient-farming-helps-communities-in-zimbabwe-reclaim-food-security-in-the-face-of-drought/) - In the heart of Zimbabwe's Chipinge District, a quiet joy resonates within Tambudzai Rukatu as she carefully lifts a handful of golden sorghum grains, allowing them to tumble into a green basin resting in her lap. For Tambudzai, a widow and mother of ward 21 in Chipinge, this moment is more than just a sign
- [FAO, WFP launch joint appeal to protect 8.8 million people from extreme weather events](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/19/fao-wfp-launch-joint-appeal-to-protect-8-8-million-people-from-extreme-weather-events/) - Staff Writer Nearly nine million people across 22 high-risk countries could be protected from a strong El Niño pattern through a new $202 million Joint Anticipatory Action Appeal. The initiative marks the first joint appeal of its kind by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
- [Government steps up climate-proofing drive with Wanezi Irrigation Scheme](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/29/government-steps-up-climate-proofing-drive-with-wanezi-irrigation-scheme/) - Staff Writer The Ministry of Agriculture says the commissioning of the 30-hectare Wanezi Irrigation Scheme in Insiza District marks a major milestone in government’s drive to climate-proof agriculture. This comes as the government is targeting to increase the area under irrigation from 175 000 hectares in 2020 to 496 000 hectares by 2030. Speaking at
- [Southern Africa faces severe drought risk](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/06/26/southern-africa-faces-severe-drought-risk/) - Staff Writer A new El Niño climate phase is projected to begin within weeks, with the drought signal expected to be most pronounced in Southern Africa as agriculture goes on high alert around the world. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has forecast a stronger-than-usual cycle, prompting advanced mapping from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of
- [SADC shifts to anticipatory action as region contends with climate shocks](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/05/14/sadc-shifts-to-anticipatory-action-as-region-contends-with-climate-shocks/) - Southern African nations are moving to overhaul their approach to environmental disasters, transitioning from reactive emergency responses to a permanent regional strategy of anticipatory action. At the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management meeting held this week, regional leaders called for initiatives to protect the bloc’s economy from recurring climate shocks. The
- [Cafca shifts to solar with 1.2MW rooftop array](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/05/07/cafca-shifts-to-solar-with-1-2mw-rooftop-array/) - The country’s largest cable manufacturer Cafca has officially commissioned a 1.2 MW rooftop solar plant, marking a significant shift toward energy independence and decarbonisation. The US$1 million solar outlay is expected to reduce Cafca’s carbon footprint. Cafca said the solar plant is expected to reduce its electricity consumption from the national grid by about 30%.
- [AfDB grants $25 million for Zimbabwe climate resilience](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/24/afdb-grants-25-million-for-zimbabwe-climate-resilience/) - The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $25 million grant to help rural Zimbabweans address climate change. The grant will restore smallholder farms, improve water and grazing land, and drive private sector growth in the region. Funded by the Bank’s Transition Support Facility (Pillar 1), the Zimbabwe Agricultural Climate Resilient and Vulnerability Reduction
- [Why Africa must put women and youth at the center of clean energy transition](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/05/11/why-africa-must-put-women-and-youth-at-the-center-of-clean-energy-transition/) - By: Judith Beatrice Auma Oduol, Keiso Matashane-Marite, Edna Akullq, Zuzana Schwidrowski * Africa’s clean energy transition will only be fast, just, and investable if women and young people are treated as producers, workers, innovators, and decision-makers, and not merely as end users of clean energy solutions. A pivotal moment for policy choices Across the continent,
- [Africa Climate Talks call for credible implementation on the road to COP32](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/30/africa-climate-talks-call-for-credible-implementation-on-the-road-to-cop32/) - African climate leaders, negotiators, policymakers and partners kicked off the 7th Africa Climate Talks with a strong call to move the global climate agenda from commitments to credible implementation. Held under the theme “Africa’s Road to COP32: From Commitments to Credible Implementation,” the meeting comes at a decisive moment for global climate action, as countries
- [Africa pursues integrated solutions for climate, water, energy, food crises](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/29/africa-pursues-integrated-solutions-for-climate-water-energy-food-crises/) - Leaders and experts convened at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa to tackle Africa's interconnected challenges related to climate, water, energy, and food security. The dialogue on “Climate-Water-Energy-Food Nexus Solutions for Africa’s Sustainable Development” was a hybrid event and part of the ARFSD12 pre-events, which brought together representatives from UN agencies, the African Union,
- [Zimbabwe, Japan ink US$2.6 million deal for rice production](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/29/zimbabwe-japan-ink-us2-6-million-deal-for-rice-production/) - Zimbabwe and Japan have formalised a new partnership aimed at strengthening food security against the backdrop of escalating climate shocks and geopolitical instability. Under the programme, the government of Japan will provide agricultural equipment valued at approximately US$2.6 million to support Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector. The assistance aims to enhance productivity, improve food security, and contribute
- [Cabinet approves wildlife policy to tackle climate crisis, human-wildlife conflict](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/28/cabinet-approves-wildlife-policy-to-tackle-climate-crisis-human-wildlife-conflict/) - The government has officially approved the National Wildlife Policy to establish a wildlife-anchored economy capable of withstanding the escalating impacts of climate change. The policy replaces the 1992 framework and aligns with best practices to ensure sustainable resource use, increase community participation, strengthen socio-economic benefits, and build resilience to climate change. In a post-Cabinet briefing,
- [First Mutual Properties boosts green portfolio with Arundel Solar Project](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/08/first-mutual-properties-boosts-green-portfolio-with-arundel-solar-project/) - First Mutual Properties (FMP) says its recently completed Arundel Office Block has a 75kWh solar system, marking a significant step in its transition toward sustainable energy. The installation is net-metered, allowing the property to feed excess power back into the national grid. The project aligns with a broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy for
- [Dairibord eyes solar expansion](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/07/dairibord-eyes-solar-expansion/) - Dairibord Holdings plans to expand its renewable energy footprint across its entire manufacturing portfolio following the successful commissioning of its solar plant in Chipinge. The Chipinge facility marks a pivotal turn in the group’s operational strategy, serving as a foundational blueprint for the company’s future energy expansion. “On the energy front, we have reached a
- [IDBZ deploys US$50 million climate fund](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/04/06/idbz-deploys-us50-million-climate-fund/) - The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) is advancing its climate finance portfolio with the development of the US$50 million Horticulture Investment Fund for Enhanced Climate Resilience. The facility is designed to fortify Zimbabwe’s high-value export chains against the escalating threats posed by a changing climate. The fund utilises a blended finance structure, integrating concessional
- [Rwanda to host climate reporting summit for African LDCs](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/02/24/rwanda-to-host-climate-reporting-summit-for-african-ldcs/) - Rwanda is set to host the first-ever centralised group review of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) for African Least Developed Countries (LDCs), marking a pivotal shift in how the continent tracks and communicates its climate progress. The event will take place alongside a hands-on capacity-building training on Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) tools. The event, happening from
- [SADC bloc commits to regional energy transition](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/03/03/sadc-bloc-commits-to-regional-energy-transition/) - The 2026 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Sustainable Energy Week concluded in Victoria Falls, with member states and regional partners committing to accelerate clean energy infrastructure and address the bloc’s persistent power deficits. The summit, which gathered policymakers, energy experts, and private sector stakeholders, resulted in a series of commitments focused on closing the energy
- [How climate-smart farming is transforming lives in Mushandike, Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/03/06/how-climate-smart-farming-is-transforming-lives-in-mushandike-zimbabwe/) - At the Mushandike Irrigation Scheme in Masvingo, farmers go to rest after a day’s work in the fields. The air hums with new promise – their farms were not this healthy and food-certain two years ago. So much has changed. Yeukai has been farming in the Mushandike Irrigation Scheme since 1994, the year she married
- [Zimbabwe approves five-year plan to stop biodiversity loss](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/03/04/zimbabwe-approves-five-year-plan-to-stop-biodiversity-loss/) - The government has approved the Third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, designed to reverse the rapid degradation of the country’s natural ecosystems. Minister of Information Soda Zhemu said biodiversity is vital to Zimbabwe’s social, cultural, and economic development, yet it faces significant threats from factors such as unregulated land use change, pollution, climate change,
- [La Niña floods displace 170,000 across region](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/02/26/la-nina-floods-displace-170000-across-region/) - A rapid transition from El Niño-driven drought to La Niña-related extreme weather has left approximately 1.9 million people across Southern Africa in need of assistance, a new report shows. According to the latest impact snapshot released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), since mid-December 2025, persistent heavy rains and
- [Climate outlook predicts wet season for most of southern Africa](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/30/climate-outlook-predicts-wet-season-for-most-of-southern-africa/) - Staff Writer The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is poised for a period of normal to above-normal rainfall across most of its territory from February through June 2026, a new forecast shows. The official forecast, released by the Thirty-Second Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-32), indicates that while the central and inland areas
- [Zimbabwe braces for heatwave](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/29/zimbabwe-braces-for-heatwave/) - Staff Writer The Meteorological Services Department has issued a nationwide advisory warning of increased daytime temperatures and potential moisture deficits across Zimbabwe. Effective today, through February 5, 2026, the alert indicates a high likelihood of dry and hot conditions as prevailing south-easterly winds displace the main rain-bearing Intertropical Convergence Zone further north. While the warning
- [New buffer zone established to protect Chirinda forest ecosystem](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/28/new-buffer-zone-established-to-protect-chirinda-forest-ecosystem/) - Communities in Muwango Village in Chipinge are strengthening forest-based livelihoods and climate resilience through community-led tree planting and innovative biochar production in a strategic move to buffer one of Zimbabwe’s critical botanical reserves. Supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Italy under the Miombo Transboundary Initiative,
- [Zimbabwe signs 25-year PPA for Vungu Solar Project](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/27/zimbabwe-signs-25-year-ppa-for-vungu-solar-project/) - Staff Writer The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) today signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the 30MW Vungu Solar project, moving a step closer to development. Located in the Midlands Province, the Vungu Solar project is among the first internationally project-financed solar independent power producers in the country. The project was
- [SADC deploys emergency teams to flood-hit Mozambique, SA](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/26/sadc-deploys-emergency-teams-to-flood-hit-mozambique-sa/) - Staff Writer SADC has deployed its Emergency Response Team to support the governments of Mozambique and South Africa, following recent floods and extreme weather conditions that have resulted in loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure and disruptions of essential services. The deployment of the SADC Emergency Response Team (ERT), as part of the SADC’s regional disaster response
- [EMA blocks 184 development projects to safeguard wetlands](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/24/ema-blocks-184-development-projects-to-safeguard-wetlands/) - Staff Writer The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has rejected 184 development project proposals as part of a rigorous enforcement of conservation laws designed to protect the nation’s wetlands and ecologically sensitive areas. The majority of the denied applications were centred in Harare Province, where urban expansion has increasingly encroached upon vital natural infrastructure. The agency
- [Rains claim 89 lives in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/26/rains-claim-89-lives-in-zimbabwe/) - Staff Writer The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) says severe weather conditions, characterised by high-intensity rainfall and violent windstorms, have claimed the lives of 89 people across Zimbabwe during the 2025/26 season. As the country enters its peak rainfall period, the CPU warned that these escalating climate events continue to pose a significant risk to life,
- [Climate pressures drive surge in human-wildlife conflict](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2026/01/12/climate-pressures-drive-surge-in-human-wildlife-conflict/) - Staff Writer The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) says human-wildlife conflict claimed 62 lives and left 81 injured in 2025, driven by climate change and intensifying competition for scarce water and grazing resources. ZimParks attributed the increasing human-wildlife conflict to the worsening climate crisis, which has triggered intense competition between local communities and
- [Zim signs Belém Declaration on people-centred climate action](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/08/zim-signs-belem-declaration-on-people-centred-climate-action/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe joined a significant international coalition, formally endorsing the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and People-Centred Climate Action during the recent Belém Climate Summit in Brazil. The declaration, signed on Friday, November 7, by leaders from 43 countries and the European Union, places the humanitarian and social impacts of global warming at the
- [Zimbabwe set for above-normal rainfall](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/04/zimbabwe-set-for-above-normal-rainfall/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe is set for another wet summer, with climate experts confirming a strong likelihood of La Niña conditions that are expected to drive normal to above-normal rainfall across most of the country for the 2025-2026 cropping season. The La Niña phenomenon is a natural climate cycle characterised by cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures, typically
- [Zimbabwe’s priorities for COP30](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/05/zimbabwes-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
- [Mukuru, iRise Carbon partner on clean cooking drive in Malawi](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/12/17/mukuru-irise-carbon-partner-on-clean-cooking-drive-in-malawi/) - Regional climate solutions firm iRise Carbon has partnered with financial services giant Mukuru to distribute 150,000 clean cookstoves across Malawi over the next year. The initiative targets rural households where cooking over open fires remains a primary, yet hazardous, daily necessity. The project is expected to benefit approximately 750,000 people and slash household firewood consumption
- [UN environment assembly wraps up in Nairobi](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/12/13/un-environment-assembly-wraps-up-in-nairobi/) - The seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, on Friday with Member States adopting 11 resolutions, three decisions and a ministerial declaration aiming to advance solutions for a more resilient planet. The assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment. More than 6,000 people – representing 186 countries
- [WFP warns of flood, cyclone risks in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/24/wfp-warns-of-flood-cyclone-risks-in-zimbabwe/) - Zimbabwe is poised for a shift to normal-to-above-normal rainfall for the 2025-2026 season after surviving a record-breaking mid-season dry spell during the last agricultural cycle. However, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a warning that the return of La Niña conditions brings heightened risks of flooding and tropical cyclones that could threaten
- [WFP calls for major expansion of disaster risk financing](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/22/wfp-calls-for-major-expansion-of-disaster-risk-financing/) - The UN World Food Programme warns that just a 1°C increase in global temperature threatens to push an additional 70 million people into food insecurity across its 45 operational countries. Extreme weather is exacerbating a global hunger crisis, as seen in recent disasters Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and Typhoon Fung-Wong in the Philippines. Storms,
- [COP30 enters its final stretch: urgency, ambition, and voices from the streets](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/18/cop30-enters-its-final-stretch-urgency-ambition-and-voices-from-the-streets/) - The last week of COP30 has begun in Belém with a palpable sense of urgency. Ministers and senior officials are now stepping into the spotlight, as negotiations move from technical wrangling to political decision-making. The stakes? Nothing less than charting a credible path to climate justice in a world running out of time. UN climate
- [Global renewable energy investment hit US$807 billion in 2024](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/18/global-renewable-energy-investment-hit-us807-billion-in-2024/) - Global investments in the energy transition reached a new record of US$2.4 trillion in 2024 – a 20% increase from the average annual levels of 2022/23. About one-third was directed towards renewable energy technologies, pushing renewable energy investment to US$807 billion. Despite this milestone, year-on-year growth of renewables slowed significantly, with annual investments increasing by
- [UN chief urges world leaders to drive down global warming](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/06/un-chief-urges-world-leaders-to-drive-down-global-warming/) - As world leaders gather in Brazil for the COP30 climate summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday called for urgent action to drive down global temperatures and keep the 1.5°C goal within reach. “Every fraction of a degree means more hunger, displacement, and loss – especially for those least responsible. It could push ecosystems past irreversible tipping
- [Red Cross helps farming communities cope with prolonged drought](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/05/red-cross-helps-farming-communities-cope-with-prolonged-drought/) - Rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall have reshaped Zimbabwe’s climate, with droughts now striking every two to three years instead of once a decade. This has resulted in 2.7 million rural Zimbabweans facing recurrent food insecurity. As the global climate crisis accelerates, hitting the South earliest and hardest, humanitarian responses are evolving from short-term relief
- [‘New climate pledges do little to correct global warming projection’](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/04/new-climate-pledges-do-little-to-correct-global-warming-projection/) - Current climate pledges by governments have resulted in only a marginal reduction of the projected global temperature increase this century, leaving the world on a path to a serious escalation of climate risks and damages, a new report shows. The warning comes in the latest Emissions Gap Report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), issued on Tuesday ahead of the COP30 climate conference which opens
- [Zimbabwe launches Biodiversity Finance Initiative](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/01/zimbabwe-launches-initiative-to-boost-conservation-finance/) - Zimbabwe launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative aimed at strengthening conservation funding and promoting sustainable natural resource use. Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, said the initiative comes as Zimbabwe continues to bear financial burdens in managing elephant populations that exceed ecological carrying capacity. “Zimbabwe is endowed with exceptional natural capital, from our diverse
- [Heat-related deaths surge by 23% as climate changes](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/11/03/heat-related-deaths-surge-by-23-as-climate-changes/) - Heat-related deaths are skyrocketing, increasing by 23% since the 1990s and reaching an annual average of 546,000 deaths, a new report shows. The 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change report, released in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), says climate change is directly to blame for the escalating crisis. The report states
- ['Climate hazards threaten 887 million people'](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/10/18/climate-hazards-threaten-887-million-people/) - Nearly 80% of the world’s poor, 887 million people, live in regions that are exposed to extreme heat, flooding and other climate hazards, a new report shows, highlighting the urgent need for global action to address the issue. The report released on Friday by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford University ahead of the COP30 climate
- ['Indirect disaster effects cost the world nearly $2 trillion per year'](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/10/13/indirect-disaster-effects-cost-the-world-nearly-2-trillion-per-year/) - From 1970 until 2000, the costs of disasters averaged $70 to $80 billion. Those mainly preventable costs doubled this century to average $180 to $200 billion annually, according to a recent report published by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Most of the exorbitant costs of disaster are preventable with proper funding and planning —one
- [Record rise in carbon dioxide levels seen in 2024](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/10/16/record-rise-in-carbon-dioxide-levels-seen-in-2024/) - Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose by a record amount in 2024, reaching new highs and locking in further long-term warming and extreme weather, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The surge was driven by continued human emissions, more wildfire activity and weakened absorption by land and ocean “sinks” – a development that threatens to create a
- [Zimbabwe targets 100% climate-smart farming by 2026](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/10/07/zimbabwe-targets-100-climate-smart-farming-by-2026/) - The Minister of Agriculture, Anxious Masuka, says Zimbabwe is targeting 100% adoption of the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme in the 2026 farming season to combat climate change impacts. The Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme uses conservation agriculture (planting basins, mulching) to ensure long-term, sustainable food security, even amid extreme weather. Speaking at the official opening of the 4th African Plant
- [Africa rallies for climate action scale-up](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/09/30/africa-rallies-for-climate-action-scale-up/) - Over 200 African government and partner representatives reaffirmed their commitment to identifying opportunities to scale up national and regional action on climate. The affirmation came at the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) Regional Dialogue, which convened key stakeholders from across the continent, including government focal points (Nationally Designated Authorities), implementing partners, civil society, and the private
- [Over half of rural households know about climate change – ZimLAC](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/09/22/over-half-of-rural-households-know-about-climate-change-zimlac/) - Staff Writer Over 40% of Zimbabwe's rural households lack knowledge of climate change, a critical gap in a nation already grappling with a food security crisis exacerbated by extreme weather events, a new report shows. According to the findings from the 2025 Rural Livelihoods Assessment, there is urgent need for enhanced awareness and educational programs
- [African leaders call for urgent climate action, investment](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/09/09/african-leaders-call-for-urgent-climate-action-investment/) - The 13th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-XIII) concluded Sunday, in Addis Ababa, with a call for urgent action and scaled-up investment to advance Africa’s climate agenda. Convened by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in partnership with the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission, and the Pan-African Climate Justice
- [SADC launches new platform to combat drought](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/09/09/sadc-launches-new-platform-to-combat-drought/) - Staff Writer The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in partnership with the World Bank and the Kingdom of Eswatini, is launching a new platform aimed at shifting the region's approach to drought from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience building. The SADC and Eswatini Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) platform will be launched during the DRM
- [Zimbabwe gazettes Climate Change Bill](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/09/01/zimbabwe-gazettes-climate-change-bill/) - Zimbabwe has gazetted the Climate Change Management Bill, 2025, establishing a regulatory framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. The bill, approved by Cabinet and now awaiting parliamentary debate, seeks to consolidate power and responsibility for all climate-related matters under the Climate Change Management Department. The proposed legislation establishes the department as the primary
- [Zambia to host SADC Climate Forum amid regional weather threats](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/28/zambia-to-host-sadc-climate-forum-amid-regional-weather-threats/) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will convene a series of high-level climate meetings in Lusaka, Zambia, from September 1 to 11, 2025, aimed at bolstering regional efforts in disaster preparedness and climate resilience. The events, including the 31st Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-31), the Climate Experts Meeting, and a validation workshop for the
- [ZimParks relocates 74 animals in Matusadona National Park](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/22/zimparks-relocates-74-animals-in-matusadona-national-park/) - The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has successfully relocated 74 large herbivores, marking an important milestone in ongoing conservation efforts within Matusadona National Park. The translocations, done in partnership with the Matusadona Conservation Trust, were completed in July 2025. “The Authority is pleased to announce the completion of wildlife translocations that brought 50
- [Africa rallies new financing models to shield communities from climate-driven health crises](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/21/africa-rallies-new-financing-models-to-shield-communities-from-climate-driven-health-crises/) - As rising heat waves, floods, and droughts push Africa’s health systems to the brink, governments, innovators, and partners are charting a new path to protect the continent’s most vulnerable communities. At a two-day regional workshop in Nairobi, convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa and the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF),
- [EU contribution boosts disaster preparedness efforts in Southern Africa](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/13/eu-contribution-boosts-disaster-preparedness-efforts-in-southern-africa/) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a €3 million contribution from the European Union (EU) to support a regional initiative aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically in Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Launched today in Nacala, Mozambique, the project titled: "Strengthening SADC Preparedness: Supporting
- [Japan provides food assistance to Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/06/japan-provides-food-assistance-to-zimbabwe/) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says it received a contribution of approximately US$1.3 million (JPY 200 million) from the government of Japan to support 32,000 vulnerable people with nutritious food assistance in Zimbabwe. The contribution will assist WFP deliver cereals, pulses and vegetable oil, ensuring that families have access to basic nutrition during
- [Victoria Falls launches sustainability monograph](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/06/victoria-falls-launches-sustainability-monograph/) - The City of Victoria Falls has launched its inaugural Sustainability Monograph, a landmark document designed to preserve its international wetland status and make the city a green and sustainable destination. Launched this Tuesday in the resort city, the monograph outlines strategies to attract green investment, unlock climate finance, create green jobs, and foster a circular
- [Climate change linked to rising disasters in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/08/05/climate-change-linked-to-rising-disasters-in-zimbabwe/) - A new report from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) has revealed a trend of escalating extreme weather events and disasters across the country, directly linking them to global climate change and the El Niño phenomenon. The Extreme Events and Disasters Report 2024 indicates that these climatic shifts are altering rainfall patterns and causing a
- [Wildlife crucial to wetland health, experts say at Ramsar COP15](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/25/wildlife-crucial-to-wetland-health-experts-say-at-ramsar-cop15/) - A new report launched today on the sidelines of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) is urging governments worldwide to acknowledge and integrate the vital role wild animals play in sustaining Africa's inland and coastal wetlands. The report, titled "Africa Special Report: Taking Animals
- [Zimbabwe pledges to spearhead wetland resource mobilisation](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/24/zimbabwe-pledges-to-spearhead-wetland-resource-mobilisation/) - Zimbabwe has committied to spearheading resource mobilisation and fostering robust partnerships for sustainable wetland management and rehabilitation. Officially opening the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) for the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his government's commitment extends to building strong linkages with a diverse range of partners. “My government commits to champion resource
- [Zimbabwe champions community-led wetland conservation](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/24/zimbabwe-champions-community-led-wetland-conservation/) - Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, says the future of global wetland conservation hinges on empowering indigenous and local communities. Speaking at the Ramsar Convention's 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) in Victoria Falls, Ndlovu positioned community involvement not as an option, but as a critical necessity for effective environmental stewardship. “Communities are the
- [Zimbabwe hosts COP15 amid alarming global wetlands decline](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/23/zimbabwe-hosts-cop15-amid-alarming-global-wetlands-decline/) - Staff Writer The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands (COP15) officially kicks off today in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, bringing together 172 contracting parties to address the accelerating global degradation of wetland ecosystems. The conference, themed "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future," comes just one week after the
- [Droughts causing record devastation worldwide - UN](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/22/droughts-causing-record-devastation-worldwide-un/) - Worldwide, some of the most widespread and damaging drought events in recorded history have occurred in recent years due to climate change and resource depletion. This is according to a new report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the U.S. National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) and the International Drought Resilience Alliance on the global impacts of droughts from 2023 to 2025.
- [UN’s Guterres presses nations for new climate plans before COP30 summit](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/22/uns-guterres-presses-nations-for-new-climate-plans-before-cop30-summit/) - UN Secretary‑General António Guterres declared the world has “passed the point of no return” on the shift to renewables and implored governments to file sweeping new climate plans before November’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil, saying the fossil fuel era is nearing its end. In a special address at UN Headquarters in New York, Guterres cited surging
- [Digital Earth Africa to launch vital new tools for wetland conservation at COP15](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/22/digital-earth-africa-to-launch-vital-new-tools-for-wetland-conservation-at-cop15/) - For the first time in 20 years, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) returns to Africa, with its debut in Southern Africa, at Victoria Falls from July 23 to 31. Amid growing threats to the continent’s wetlands, including urbanisation, agricultural expansion, pollution and climate change impacts, Digital Earth Africa (DE Africa) will unveil new tools
- [Solar leads new power projects in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/17/solar-leads-new-power-projects-in-zimbabwe/) - The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) says it has observed an increasing trend among companies installing solar systems for their consumption, as well as for net metering. Out of the licensed power generation projects last year, ZERA said 16 projects are solar photovoltaic power plants, while one is a coal-fired thermal power plant. “A majority
- [Heat waves put older persons at high risk - UN](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/15/heat-waves-put-older-persons-at-high-risk-un/) - As extreme heat grips many countries, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warns of heightened health risks for older persons in the Frontiers 2025 Report. The report states that adults aged 65 years and older, women, and people living in lower-middle income countries and tropical climates are at high morbidity and mortality risk from exposure to
- [ZimParks launches wildlife relocation to bolster Matusadona ecosystem](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/07/07/zimparks-launches-wildlife-relocation-to-bolster-matusadona-ecosystem/) - The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) is implementing a multi-year wildlife translocation program aimed at restoring biodiversity and enhancing ecological resilience within Matusadona National Park and its surrounding landscape. The initiative seeks to re-establish viable, self-sustaining herbivore populations, a critical step towards ecosystem restoration and the rewilding of Matusadona as part of the
- [Africa boosts climate resilience with early warning initiatives](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/30/sadc-boosts-climate-resilience-with-early-warning-initiatives/) - African leaders and experts launched a groundbreaking space-based early warning initiative last week, reinforcing efforts to enhance climate resilience across the continent. The leaders and experts concluded a pivotal joint forum in Windhoek, co-hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), underscoring the critical need for accessible, timely climate
- [ZimParks grapples with escalating human-elephant conflict amid climate pressures](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/27/zimparks-grapples-with-escalating-human-elephant-conflict-amid-climate-pressures/) - The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) says the country is grappling with a surge in human-elephant conflicts, directly attributed to increased elephant populations and localised overabundance. This came out during a recent review of the Zimbabwe Elephant Management Plan (2021-2025) to assess implementation of the plan, emerging issues, evaluate management approaches, and exploring
- [AfDB project restores electricity in Zimbabwean communities following devastating Cyclone Idai](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/18/afdb-project-restores-electricity-in-zimbabwean-communities-following-devastating-cyclone-idai/) - The AfDB-funded Post-Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery Project restored electricity access, revitalising businesses across communities in Zimbabwe. In March 2019, Cyclone Idai tore through Zimbabwe's eastern districts with unprecedented fury, leaving behind a trail of devastation. Among the hardest hit regions were Chimanimani and Chipinge, where the lifelines of modern life—electricity, roads, and water systems—were severed
- [UN June Climate Meetings commence in Bonn, Germany](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/16/un-june-climate-meetings-commence-in-bonn-germany/) - The UN June Climate Meetings, formally known as the 62nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62), are commencing today at the World Conference Centre Bonn (WCCB) in Bonn, Germany, where the UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) is headquartered. Building on the progress achieved at the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku last year, the meetings from
- [Saint-Gobain Africa sparks urgent conversations on sustainable construction](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/13/saint-gobain-africa-sparks-urgent-conversations-on-sustainable-construction/) - Against the backdrop of World Environment Day 2025 and Africa’s fast-approaching construction boom, Saint-Gobain Africa hosted its first Sustainable Construction Talk (SCT) on African soil last week. Held at Workshop17 in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, the gathering united developers, architects, engineers, finance and sustainability experts to unpack one vital question: How do we build sustainably
- [IFRC boosts local flood preparedness in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/06/03/ifrc-boosts-local-flood-preparedness-in-zimbabwe/) - From prayers and panic to preparedness and poise: disaster risk reduction drills in Chibuwe village give young and old a clear sense of what to do, well before the waters rise. "We used to watch the river rise and just pray it wouldn’t take everything," said Kenneth Madhlazi, a farmer from Chibuwe village in Zimbabwe’s Chipinge
- [COP15 Ramsar Convention puts spotlight on Zimbabwe’s wetland conservation efforts](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/03/02/cop15-ramsar-convention-puts-spotlight-on-zimbabwes-wetland-conservation-efforts/) - 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
- [SADC leaders push for Regional Carbon Market](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/23/sadc-leaders-push-for-regional-carbon-market/) - SADC heads of state and government have called for the development of a Regional Carbon Market Framework as Southern Africa grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. The declaration came from a pivotal Summit on Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) held in Harare, underscoring climate action's role in regional integration. Leaders highlighted that carbon credits
- [Real cost of disasters is 10 times higher than previously thought, says UN](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/27/real-cost-of-disasters-is-10-times-higher-than-previously-thought-says-un/) - As countries face increasingly steep bills from natural hazards, the true cost of disasters is actually 10 times higher than previously estimated, with far-reaching effects across healthcare, housing, education and employment. This is according to a report released Tuesday by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). While current estimates suggest the global economic impact of
- [AfDB approves $10 million grant to boost climate resilience in Zimbabwe](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/22/afdb-approves-10-million-grant-to-boost-climate-resilience-in-zimbabwe/) - The African Development Bank Group has approved a $10,12 million grant from its African Development Fund to boost sustainable agricultural production and strengthen rural resilience in drought-prone regions in Zimbabwe. The project is expected to directly benefit 7,000 livestock-keeping farmers and 42,000 smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Agricultural Value Chain and Livelihoods Enhancement Project
- [SADC TFCA International Conference opens...calls for strengthened collaboration, partnerships for biodiversity conservation](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/19/427/) - The inaugural Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Conference commenced in Harare, Zimbabwe. In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary for Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba, said SADC member states have a shared vision to foster integrated and effective management of transboundary landscapes and seascapes. “Without adequate resources, our efforts to
- [Southern Africa strengthens transfrontier conservation efforts](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/16/southern-africa-strengthens-transfrontier-conservation-efforts/) - 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](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/12/climate-change-takes-increasingly-extreme-toll-on-african-countries/) - 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](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/09/zimbabwe-launches-national-carbon-registry-in-carbon-market-push/) - 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
- [IFAW fits elephants with GPS collars to mitigate human conflict](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/04/30/ifaw-fits-elephants-with-gps-collars-to-mitigate-human-conflict/) - 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
- [Government calls for localisation of climate action](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/05/08/government-calls-for-localisation-of-climate-action/) - 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
- ['Indigenous peoples sidelined in global climate fight'](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/04/28/indigenous-peoples-sidelined-in-global-climate-fight/) - 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
- [Climate crisis driving surge in gender-based violence, UN study finds](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/04/24/climate-crisis-driving-surge-in-gender-based-violence-un-study-finds/) - 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
- [Zimbabwe leads Africa in climate plan submissions](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/02/13/zimbabwe-leads-africa-in-climate-plan-submissions/) - 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](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/02/07/zimbabwean-banks-embrace-sustainability-amid-climate-crisis/) - 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
- [Zim’s food import bill surges on El Niño](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/02/07/zims-food-import-bill-surges-on-el-nino/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe’s food import bill increased significantly by 55.2% to US$976.1 million in 2024 from US$628.9 million in 2023, latest data shows. According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the increase was underpinned by grain imports, necessitated by the El Niño-induced drought that adversely affected the 2023/24 agricultural season. “Maize imports increased from
- [Increased rainfall boosts Kariba Dam](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/02/05/increased-rainfall-boosts-kariba-dam/) - Staff Writer The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says water levels at the Kariba Dam have gradually risen due to intensified rainfall. In its latest hydrological update, ZRA said the trend is projected to continue as we approach the end of the first quarter of 2025. “The water levels in the Kariba Reservoir have been gradually
- [World Bank calls for Zimbabwe to finalise disaster plan](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/02/04/world-bank-calls-for-zimbabwe-to-finalise-disaster-plan/) - Staff Writer The World Bank has called on Zimbabwe to finalise its disaster risk management legislation and strengthen its early warning and disaster response systems. Currently, the Civil Protection Act (1989) is the guiding legislation underpinning disaster response in the country. The Civil Protection Act focuses narrowly on civil protection and disaster response management led
- [Zimbabwe risks 12% GDP loss to climate change – World Bank](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2025/01/31/zimbabwe-risks-12-gdp-loss-to-climate-change-world-bank/) - Staff Writer The World Bank says the cost of inaction on climate change could erode up to 12% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product (GDP) annually. In its latest Zimbabwe Economic Update, the World Bank emphasises the urgent need for proactive climate adaptation measures, highlighting that every dollar invested in early interventions could save up to
- [Meikles commits to environmental sustainability](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/06/14/meikles-commits-to-environmental-sustainability/) - Staff Writer Hospitality and retail group Meikles Limited (Meikles) says it continues to progress in reducing the negative environmental impacts from its operations. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed group's chairman, John Moxon said Meikles has broadened its commitment to sustainability by incorporating sustainability issues in its governance processes and structures. This suggests a long-term approach by
- [AfDB, JICA agree on climate finance innovation for Africa](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/07/01/afdb-jica-agree-on-climate-finance-innovation-for-africa/) - Staff Writer The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have called for a new approach to financing climate action to back Africa's efforts to tackle climate change. During a meeting in Tokyo, both organisations acknowledged that traditional concessional loans are not enough. They emphasised the importance of innovative financial
- [Zimbabwe receives US$31.8 million drought relief payout from African Risk Capacity](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/07/04/zimbabwe-receives-us31-8-million-drought-relief-payout-from-african-risk-capacity/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe has received a US$31.8 million payout from the African Risk Capacity (ARC) drought insurance scheme to bolster food security efforts and aid a challenging agricultural season. Zimbabwe like its counterparts in Southern Africa, is currently grappling with El Niño-induced severe drought which has impacted millions of farming households, affecting their livelihoods, food
- [Zimbabwe needs circular economy, climate-resilient agric for sustainable growth -UN](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/06/28/zimbabwe-needs-circular-economy-climate-resilient-agric-for-sustainable-growth-un/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe must prioritise a circular economy and climate-smart agriculture to ensure sustainable economic development, UN Resident Coordinator Edward Kallon has said. Speaking at the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce Annual Congress, Kallon highlighted the importance of resource efficiency and waste reduction. He noted that a circular economy framework emphasises resource efficiency and waste
- [Zimbabwe to boost agric production amid shifting climate patterns](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/07/17/zimbabwe-to-boost-agric-production-amid-shifting-climate-patterns/) - Staff Writer The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost agricultural production in the upcoming 2024/25 summer season, targeting a significant increase in cereal yields. The plan comes amid a devastating El Niño-induced drought that ravaged the 2023/24 season. El Niño, a cyclical warming of the Pacific Ocean, disrupts global weather patterns, leading to
- [Zimbabwe faces widespread food crisis through early 2025 – FEWS NET](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/07/05/zimbabwe-faces-widespread-food-crisis-through-early-2025-fews-net/) - Staff Writer Zimbabwe is facing a period of widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) conditions across the country, signifying severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition, from October 2024 to January 2025, FEWS NET has predicted.The alarming situation is a direct consequence of the devastating drought that began in late 2023 and intensified in early 2024, with
- [Drought to weigh on spending - IMF](https://climatebrief.co.zw/2024/04/24/drought-to-weigh-on-spending-imf/) - Staff Writer The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the current drought in southern Africa will put pressure on external balances and public spending. From January 2024, several parts of Southern Africa experienced significantly below-average rainfall. Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique and Botswana received less than 20 percent of the typical rainfall expected for February, with

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