In his message for the launch of the World Meteorological Organization provisional State of the Global Climate Report 2022, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on 6 November said as COP27 gets underway, the planet is sending a distress signal. “The latest State of the Global Climate report is a chronicle of climate chaos. As the…
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 6 November 2022 – The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 opened today with the key aim of ensuring full implementation of the Paris Agreement. Discussions at COP27 begin near the end of a year that has seen devastating floods and unprecedented heat waves, severe droughts and formidable storms, all unequivocal signs of the…
Dr. Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) has been named among the 100 most influential people in climate advocacy for the 2022-2023 period. In this installment, Spiked Online Media focuses on the Top 20 as well as International Non-Governmental Organisations. The climate crisis is here. Emissions are still too…
The Regional Research Observatory on the Environment and Climate (RROEC) has been inaugurated in Djibouti in a bid to produce data and climate models to inform political decisions on climate adaptation and resilience for the country and across the East African region. Established with the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), RROEC was…
By Baboloki Semele President of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is scheduled to host a high-level roundtable and luncheon during COP 27 at Sharm El Sheikh Convention Centre, Blue Zone, Africa Pavilion on 7th November 2022. Scheduled for 13:15 hrs, the luncheon will serve to reshape the conversation about climate diplomacy and empowerment in…
The critical issue of wildlife conservation issues has been brought to the fore on the international scene through the exhilarating yet educative Gonerezhou the Movie. The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu officiated at the premiere of the screening of Gonarezhou the Movie yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. In his…
Own Correspondent … climate finance must reach the communities most affected by climate change Accra, Ghana – Hundreds of young African faith-based climate activists have been cooperating across the continent in preparation to influence the upcoming climate talks at COP27 in Egypt next week. This week more than 20 have gathered to influence the over…
The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org/), the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, in cooperation with Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt’s largest and leading private sector bank, is organising an important Panel Discussion on 9 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh during COP27. Two important…
The world needs to stop burning fossil fuels. Climate change is already happening and to prevent the worst impacts we must accelerate the just transition to cleaner, safer energy. In moving to renewable energy technologies, the world will be swapping reliance on one set of natural resources for another. An estimated sixfold increase in the production…
By Elvis Dumba Harare – Stakeholders are calling for greater involvement of children and young people in strategies and actions meant to counter climate change-induced challenges. Various stakeholders from the government, environmental organisations, and UN agencies met yesterday during a high-level dialogue on climate change ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties of the…
The Global Center on Adaptation is inviting stakeholders to the virtual launch of the 2022 State and Trends on Adaptation in Africa Report. The launch is set for Thursday 3rd November from 13.00 – 14.00 CET. With less than one week until COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the Global Center on Adaptation is gathering…
By IPES Food With international climate negotiations in Egypt fast approaching (COP27), and food systems high on the agenda for the first time, the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) is warning that a growing number of green buzzwords are being used to obstruct food system transformation. Our new briefing, ‘Smoke…
The African Lead Negotiators are currently meeting in Sharm El Sheikh to map out a strategy to approach the negotiations at COP 27 focusing on the need to accelerate action for climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. Mr. Washington Zhakata who is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) focal person for Zimbabwe and…
BY ZIMBABWE YOUTHS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE Appreciating the support from the Government of Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment Climate Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECTHI), ACT alliance, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Zimbabwe Youth Environmental organizations for organizing the first Local Conference Of Children and Youth in Zimbabwe. Acknowledging…
By Dr. Claude Kabemba (Executive Director of the Southern Africa Resource Watch) Africa finds itself at a crossroads in the climate change discourse. On the one hand, Africa has polluted less than any other continent and it is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; on the other hand, it lacks the finances and…
N Climate Change News, 26 October 2022 – A new report from UN Climate Change shows countries are bending the curve of global greenhouse gas emissions downward but underlines that these efforts remain insufficient to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. According to the report, the combined…
By Hillary Munedzi Food giant Nestle has championed regenerative agriculture as the panacea to domestic food price inflation, a development that has cushioned household food security as the world commemorates World Food Day. Zimbabwe is leading the world’s top ten countries worst affected by domestic food price inflation, all because of supply chain disruptions fuelled…
By Godwin Mungwadzi Zimbabwe’s Robotics team won the XPRIZE Gold Medal Innovator award, at the 2022 FIRST Global Challenge games – an Olympics-style, international robotics competition for high-school students from around the world that aims to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — also known as STEM in a similar way to how Athletics and Sports…
By Elvis Dumba Mutorashanga – Environmentalists and the Zvimba community have been plunged into mourning Chief Chidziva as news of his death filtered through. 92-year-old Chief Chidziva born Johannes Jenami was one of the three paramount chiefs in Zvimba. Chief Chidziva who was an advocate for stiffer penalties on perpetrators of environmental crimes such as…
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has today contributed US$36.7 million on behalf of the American people to help the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provide food assistance at the peak of the lean season between October and March next year. In a year marked by COVID-19, climatic shocks, food and fuel…
By Nhau Mangirazi Harare – The Zimbabwe government has agreed to take punitive measures to curb veld fires after Chief Chundu raised the issue with information minister Monica Mutsvagwa who promised action to address the major challenge affecting the environment. Chief Abel Mbasera Chundu said this during the Senate sitting under Oral Answers to Questions…
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) signed its first cooperation agreement with the EMEA division of Invesco focused on an investment strategy in the climate adaptation space. The agreement, expected to become fully operational at COP27, is specifically targeted at exploring a blended finance strategy that aims to increase adaptation investment in developing markets. The…
High-level European and African energy stakeholders united to discuss the potential of Africa’s hydrocarbon and renewable resources to help attain global energy security As the European Union (EU) restructures its plans for energy security in light of shifting geopolitical realities, the Africa-Europe Roundtable – organized on the first day of African Energy Week 2022…
By Nhau Mangirazi There is a need for sound communication as it remains key to climate change mitigation and disaster management on environmental issues affecting communities. According to National Environment Action Plan, (NEAP), the impacts of pending disasters can be significantly reduced if there are sound communication platforms. The 72-page document that is under scrutiny…
“This funding will help ACRA address resistance to change with regards to the implementation of environmentally sustainable natural refrigerants, support the academy in becoming a centre of excellence in Africa as well as further develop food security by maintaining the cold chain,” Mr. Grant Laidlaw, ACRA Managing Director at the project launch on 14 October…
By Nhau Mangirazi Hurungwe – National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) must recognize wetlands as the mainstay of water bodies, helping communities and biodiversity. Karoi Residents Trust (Karest) director, Travo Chiwanga said there is a need for local authorities to protect the wetlands in rural, towns, municipalities, and cities in the country. Of late, a majority of…
Hon. Mangaliso Ndhlovu, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has called on stakeholders to address the challenge of biodiversity that is presently being lost at unprecedented rates largely due to human-driven activities and the impact of climate change. He made the call during a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Convention on Biological…
By Hillary Munedzi The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has underscored the critical importance of mainstreaming biodiversity across agriculture sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There were calls to place emphasis on SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, SDG 13 on climate change,…
By Zachary Makanya Many of us have been cautioning Kenyans not to embrace GMOs for a long time and we thought our reasons were clear to all. We were very happy that the Government of His Excellency Hon Mwai Kibaki listened and respected the wishes of the Kenyan farmers and consumers to ban the commercialization…
Zimbabwe is making substantial achievements in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) treaty whose three main objectives are the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. This was revealed…
By Sowell Chikwari Industry and agriculture sectors have been urged to optimise resources by adopting clean energy solutions as a panacea to the power crisis which has paralyzed large-scale industrial operations and commercial farming. In an agro-based economy experiencing acute power challenges, renewable energy-powered irrigation infrastructure is crucial for agricultural productivity. Zimbabwe has average solar…
Distributed Power Africa (DPA), a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, and a French multinational power utility firm Électricité de France (EDF), have clinched a deal to construct a 4 megawatt (MW) solar plant in Kenya. The two companies, which co-own DPA Kenya, on Thursday signed an agreement with the Devki Group to provide renewable energy solutions…
By Nhau Mangirazi Illegal farm brick moulding is affecting the environment and water bodies which will have a great impact on sustainable development and water management. These were some key issues submitted during National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) consultative meeting in Hurungwe. Hurungwe rural district official, Obey Makupo, suggested that brick moulding is affecting the…
The Ministers responsible for coordinating matters of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area ( KAZA TFCA) from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Botswana met in Katima Mulilo, Namibia yesterday the 13th of October 2022. The Zimbabwean Minister Hon Ngobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu was represented by his Deputy Minister Hon Barbara Rwodzi. They met to reflect on how…
By Nhau Mangirazi HURUNGWE – Zimbabwe must have modalities for protecting the environment from harmful chemical spillage along the Harare-Chirundu highway. This came out during the National Environment Action Plan (NEAP) consultative meeting in Hurungwe where participants said the chemicals are dangerous to humans, wildlife, and the environment. Albert Sande from Kariba Redd (Carbon Green…
The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry for Zimbabwe, Hon. Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu today officiated at two tree-planting events on the sidelines of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo which were hosted by Insukamini and Hugh Beadle Primary Schools in Bulawayo. “My coming here at Insukamini highlights the importance of planting trees. Even though…
Caroline O’Doherty A cocktail of conflict, climate change and Covid has brought “catastrophic” food shortages to 44 countries. Almost one billion people across the world are going hungry, at levels categorised as “alarming” in nine countries and “serious” in 34 others. Experts are warning the situation could “significantly worsen” next year if current pressures continue….
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their habitats. As part of the world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to natural processes. Zimbabwe is at the heart of conserving wildlife. Yesterday there was a meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (COSO) for Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA…
By Hillary Munedzi Zimbabwe’s forests are arguably the mainstay of tourism, especially in protected areas, which would in turn create jobs in rural areas, diversify and produce finished products that will improve environmental resilience in the face of climate change. Speaking during the COMESA’s all-stakeholder climate meeting, Mr. Abedinigo Marufu, the Forestry Commission Zimbabwe director-general,…
By International Crisis Group Climate change is increasing the risk of conflict across the Horn of Africa. Intensified droughts and floods render land unusable, force people from their homes and compel them to compete for resources. They also raise the stakes in transboundary water disputes. The climate-conflict link is evident in Kenya, where four consecutive…
Amid calls to preserve the natural ecosystem and ensure safety measures against veld fires to avoid the loss of lives and valuables, Firefight Trust (NGO) Director, Willson Chimwedzi, has said there is a need to train farmers in fire management. “In recent years, agriculture in Zimbabwe has been adversely affected by poor tillage due to…
Climate justice organizations and groups in Africa have launched a platform dubbed “Africa Vuka #Road2COP” (https://bit.ly/3TgpmZG) to highlight climate stories, campaigns, and calls for climate solutions on the road to COP 27 in Egypt. The platform will showcase a variety of campaigns from across the continent advocating for real climate justice and a fossil-free Africa…
By Global Water Partnership Southern Africa Integrative and inclusive investment project planning at the transboundary and regional levels is critical in the response to challenges and catalysing development in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. This was one of the key issues raised at the transboundary water management session convened by the Lesotho ICM…
By Hillary Munedzi As developed countries fail to meet their pledges in relation to climate and development finance, women in Africa have suffered more and have been forced to invest more time in meeting family needs. The continent relies heavily on natural resources and rain-fed agriculture. This calls for urgency in meeting commitments to climate…
President of the African Development Bank Group (http://www.AfDB.org) Dr. Akinwumi Adesina says civil society organizations are essential partners in the Bank’s effort to build the continent’s resilience to climate change. Addressing the opening plenary of the 2022 Civil Society Forum on Thursday in the Ivorian economic capital, Abidjan, Adesina highlighted the African Development Fund’s Climate…
