By Elvis Dumba People with Disabilities have led in the observation of national tree planting day in Banket. Kind Matope Chairperson of Banket PWDs led in the event by planting a tree at Sacred Heart High School where he urged residents to preserve the remaining few trees around Banket. Matope who said their constituency…
As a way of tackling climate change and in line with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as outlined in the Paris Agreement, the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) Party today commemorated the National Tree Planting Day by planting trees in Mhondoro and Chikomba as a launchpad to a massive nationwide tree-planting exercise to…
A new campaign and petition calling on the Zimbabwe Government to make lasting commitments to people with disabilities were launched last month ahead of the second Global Disability Summit. The Summit will be held in February 2022 in Norway, to address the global needs of people with disabilities and ensure they are integrated into policies…
By Joyce Mukucha Worldwide, the impacts of climate change are becoming more and more devastating causing food insecurity, health challenges, heat waves, fires and disasters such as floods which as a result cause displacement and women are hardest hit. Climate change marginalizes and increases vulnerabilities for women and girls because already, they are disproportionately affected…
Dr. Richard Munang Africa already needs a minimum of $2.5trillion to implement its climate action commitments. Even as COP26 in Glasgow agreed to double the $100 billion pledge to developing countries, this means that even if the pledges were honoured in full, the gap would still be gapping for Africa. If we were to go with just…
By Muchaneta Chimuka With the support from from a non-governmental organisation called terre des homes (tdh),the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC) last Friday gathered young people who operate under a Child and Youth Environmental Forum at Tariro Youth Centre in Hopely to discuss environmental issues in Hopely mapping a way…
By Dr. Mathew M. Abang Bananas represent one of the most consumed and traded fruits globally. In Southern Africa, bananas serve both as a staple food and important cash crop. To date, Tanzania is the largest producer of bananas in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)….
Food shortages, the disappearance of medicinal plants and essences, and changes in lifestyle are the consequences of deforestation on the indigenous peoples of Central Africa. Nearly 60 km from Douala in Cameroon, in the Littoral region, on a normal road that runs along a track that is engulfed in the forest, and out of nowhere,…
By Tsitsi Ndabambi On Saturday 20 November in Ruwa, a few minutes after kickstarting what looked like the toughest and most competitive of all volleyball matches between Ruwa and Marondera Tigers who were battling for a Mashonaland East volleyball League tournament trophy, a dark cloud covered the sky followed by an outpouring heavy rainfall. The…
By Elvis Dumba MUTORASHANGA- Farmers in the beef and dairy industry have been urged to adopt environment friendly practices in their activities to combat environment damaging effects such as land degradation which result from overgrazing. A Mutorashanga farmer has took it upon himself in training small scale dairy and beef farmers around the area in…
By Joyce Mukucha Striving to build a green economy as well as reducing the vulnerability of different communities from the devastating effects of climate change, the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) Zimbabwe has partnered with AAG diaspora in launching a “Go Green” pledge, a campaign aimed at advocating for reduction of negative impact to the environment…
Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan climate activist, emerged as one of the most prominent youth voices at COP26 in Glasgow. “Prove us wrong,” was her message to delegates at the climate talks, which entered their final day on Friday, as fears grew that countries would fail to convert ambition into an agreement. Activists and delegates from…
By Joyce Mukucha The trend in rising forced displacement continued into 2021 with global numbers now exceeding 84 million as more people fled violence, insecurity and the effects of climate change, according to the Mid-Year Trends report released today by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The report for January-June 2021, indicated a surge from 82.4…
The proper management of the environment is critical to ensure the sustainable use of aquaculture and fisheries along the value chain, a top environmentalist has said. Aquaculture is the farming of animals and plants in water. There are various important steps in the aquaculture value chain that includes production, harvesting, processing, marketing, and utilisation. Environmentalist,…
By Joyce Mukucha In an effort aimed at helping the government on the implimentation of the Montreal Protocol in Zimbabwe focusing on the major objective of gradual reduction and eventual elimination of man-made chemicals and substances production that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is tirelessly working…
By Elvis Dumba Harare- The Government of Zimbabwe say it’s ready to respond to climate change induced emergencies as the country moves into a rain season. Government said it has noted that climate change induced emergencies are becoming complex and difficult to manage both in Zimbabwe and rest of SADC countries. Government has approved an…
By Joyce Mukucha Despite efforts governments are making in prioritizing public health measures to protect their people from climate impacts, many lack the funds to take effective action with a potential missed opportunity to identify and optimize the health benefits of adaptation and mitigation efforts in other sectors, said the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO)…
By Joyce Mukucha By the year 2030, an estimated 50 per cent of the world’s population that live in coastal areas will be exposed to extreme weather events such as flooding, storms and tsunamis, the United Nations(UN) has warned. Marking this year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day on the 4th of November 2021 against this background,…
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development This week, the world’s focus has been on the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). For Zimbabwe, the major talking point has been the visit by Zimbabwean government officials which saw in over two decades, a Zimbabwean state leader visiting the UK. Beyond the sensational news headlines…
By Joyce Mukucha recently in Darwendale The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry’s Climate Change Management Department is making concerted efforts in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons( HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to eliminate the production and use of these ozone-depleting substances as encouraged by the Montreal Protocol, a government official…
The World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Japan announced the finalisation of a resilience building programme in the district of Mount Darwin. The USD 1.25 million contribution provided by Japan in March 2021, has empowered up to 2,200 vulnerable households (approximately 11,000 individuals) in Mount Darwin and Matobo districts to enhance their food…
There is a need for enhancing the capacity of landlocked developing countries to address climate change and water-related challenges, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu has said. He made the remarks at a Side Event at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow held under the theme “Enhancing…
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany today announced, on the margins of the ongoing United Nations 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), the sum of €18million to subsidize the cost of disaster risk insurance for qualifying African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group Member States. In her statement, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the…
By Masutane Modjadji (Southern African Resource Watch) The 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow takes place at a time when the world is desperate for concrete actions on climate challenges. As world leaders meet to discuss climate change impacts (and take symbolic pledges synonymous with this…
By Joyce Mukucha The head of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) together with nine other international organisations have urged nations to urgently step up and take action to address the water-related consequences of climate change. The message was communicated in a correspondence which was issued last week and directed to world leaders ahead of the…
By Tendai Guvamombe The validation of the draft Vulnerability Assessment Report (VAR) held at Mazowe Hotel, in Mashonaland Central Province on the 28th September 2021 by various stakeholders is expected to drive the country towards risk reduction in vulnerability, sensitivity, and exposure as part of climate proofing the socio economic infrastructure. The VAR will directly…
By Antonio Guterres The climate crisis is a code red for humanity. World leaders will soon be put to the test at the UN Climate Conference — known as COP26 — in Glasgow. Their actions — or inactions — will show their seriousness about addressing this planetary emergency. The warning signs are…
By Calvin Manika Zimbabwe is among the nations attending the COP26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland next month. Like many third world countries it has been equally affected with climate change as evidenced with successive droughts and unreliable rainfall in some seasons. The rise in temperatures in many parts of Zimbabwe shows the brutal effects of…
By Tendai Guvamombe The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) in partnership with Sunshine Network across Southern Africa last week successfully launched #Trash Hack Media Campaign aimed at encouraging young people to actively participate in environment-related issues and activities. The social media campaign will be an ideal platform for young people to enhance sustainable…
The 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, popularly known as COP26, is happening at a time when the world has just experienced one of the warmest years on record. The year 2020 reached temperatures that were about 1.02°C warmer than average. These kinds of extremes, driven by climate…
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in partnership with Sunshine International Network will this Friday launch a global campaign dubbed the Trash Hack aimed at raising awareness for young people to be active in environmental related issues, sustainable waste management, and promoting sustainable development through the use of social media such as…
By Joyce Mukucha The 2021 Production Gap Report, released this Wednesday by leading research institutes and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) revealed that despite increased climate ambitions and net-zero commitments, governments still plan to produce more than double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than what would be consistent with limiting global warming…
Based on the study of environmental DNA cellular material released from living things into their surroundings, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Monday launched a project to protect and preserve biodiversity. This comes after the organization noted with concern that species are under threat so the project is also aimed at making…
By Joyce Mukucha National AIDS Council (NAC) in partnership with Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association (ZPGA) and KidzCan have joined hands in the 2021 NAC PRO-AM Golf Fundraising Tournament aimed at raising at least USD100 000 which will go towards the purchase of chemotherapy and diagnostics medicines for children. The three-day Pro-AM golf tournament which…
By Joyce Mukucha The government is tirelessly working to enhance agricultural productivity, food, and nutrition security, and sustainable agri-food systems that are inclusive and resilient, a government official has said. In his remarks during the World Food Day (WFD) celebrations last week, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement, Douglas Karoro said the…
Ahead of the Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) Party is proffering pathways towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. Manyara irene Muyenziwa, the FORUS Party President and a development practitioner in her own capacity, said sustainable development will be difficult to achieve without tackling climate change. In an…
By Chukwumerije Okereke We are now a couple of weeks away from the United Nations’ Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26) in Glasgow, where critical decisions that will shape the future of climate governance will be made. As the continent least responsible for, and yet most vulnerable to climate change, African governments cannot afford to be…
Climate change must be our greatest priority in disaster risk reduction space Africa must build resilience proactively if it is to change the disaster risk architecture With COP26 around the corner, our focus should be on the devastating impact of climate change as we mark International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction today, observed annually…
Africa risks continued exposure to climate extremes unless it makes serious efforts to enhance and remodel its early warning systems, experts caution. “The message for Africa is simple — increasing ambition for action is an urgent imperative,” Dr. Richard Munang, the Africa Regional Climate Change Coordinator at the UN Environment Program (UNEP), told the Alliance for Science….
By Joyce Mukucha The new report by United Nations has underscored an urgent need for economies in the Asia-Pacific region to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including to maintain their trade competitiveness as carbon taxes at borders threaten to rise. The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2021 was jointly launched on Monday by the UN…
On October 14 and 15, Hivos’ African Crossroads will organize its fourth edition. The theme of this year’s gathering is ECOEXISTENCE. At the end of Crossroads 2021, participants will emerge with an actionable (collective) manifesto that aims to shape the trajectory of climate justice on the African continent for the years to come. African Crossroads…
With one accord in a landmark historical moment, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) on Friday declared that access to a healthy, clean and sustainable environment is a universal human right and stated that it can also positively contribute to a global fight against climate change and its disastrous impacts. According to World Health…
Following the water crisis situation which is becoming a global challenge, a new report published recently by the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and partners emphasised the need for improved water management, monitoring, and forecasting in combating the dire situation. In 2018, the report indicated, some 3.6 billion people globally had inadequate access to water…
Gene editing continues to show great promise for developing more resilient and climate-smart crops to counter the mounting threat of climate change and its adverse effects on global food security, new research shows. With its vast potential to alleviate food insecurity and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations, gene editing as an agricultural production tool…
By Joyce Mukucha The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday launched a humanitarian flash appeal for the Kenya drought response as no fewer than 2.5 million people in different communities of the country’ s dry regions categorized as Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) experience food insecurity. The Kenya Drought Flash…
