Climate
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Scale up private capital aligned to SDGs, Paris Agreement: French minister Chrysoula Zacharopoulou
French minister Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, in her address to the media at the Africa Climate Week, emphasised the need to scale up private capital aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. She said there is a need to maintain the strong political momentum for climate action and global financial system reform.…
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Africa Climate Week commences, Charting a Fresh Course for Climate Action
Writes Baboloki Semele 06 August 2023, Nairobi, Kenya: The urgency of climate change is undeniable, and the stakes have never been higher. Against this backdrop, Africa Climate Week 2023 emerged as a critical platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action. Held in Nairobi, Kenya, from the 4th to the 8th of September 2023, the Africa Climate…
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Africa Climate Summit Launches Official Event App
The inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) secretariat has launched the official Africa Climate Summit App ahead of the events from the 4th – 6th September this year. The app is designed to provide an immersive experience for attendees and the general public alike before, during, and after the summit. The App, available for download on…
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Africa’s climate leadership, a welcome battering ram
Wanjira Mathai – Managing Director for Global Partnerships and Africa, World Resources Institute This is the inaugural Africa Climate Summit, we are coming together to chart a common narrative and pathway of our position on the climate crisis, which must be grounded in justice for our people. We must seize our chance to transform people’s…
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ACS23 ready to tackle Africa’s climate issues
Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Africa Climate Summit 2023 (ACS23) preparations are at an advanced stage with emphasis placed on collective climate action to find common global solutions. This year’s summit is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, running from 4 September until 6 September focusing on driving green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and…
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EMA urges veld fires victims to file reports
Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has urged those who would have been affected by veld fires to report the incidents to relevant authorities saying this was crucial in data collection, reinforcing community education on veld fires prevention and legal steps to be taken. This follows a veld fire incident that reportedly happened…
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Artificial intelligence can now estimate rice yields, according to new study
With the rise in global demand for staple crop products projected to substantially increase by 2050 due to population growth, rising per capita income, and the growing use of biofuels, it is necessary to adopt sustainable agricultural intensification practices in existing croplands to meet this demand. However, estimation processes currently employed in the global South…
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Climate-smart agriculture: How satellite technology can help
Following July 2023, confirmed as Earth’s hottest month on record, UNCTAD and its partners are ramping up efforts to help developing countries use satellite technology to make farming more climate resilient. With extreme weather events becoming more intense and frequent, agricultural adaptation to climate change is key to minimizing crop loss and fighting global hunger. Driven…
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Partnerships leading to greater access to nutritious food and affordable diets
The Coalition on Sustainable Productivity Growth for Food Security and Resource Conservation (SPG Coalition) brings together researchers, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners to advance a world with greater access to nutritious food and affordable diets. The Coalition recognizes that increasing the productivity of natural resources through climate adaptation and mitigation is instrumental to reaching…
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‘Superfood’ millet may be arid regions’ answer to climate change
Riding a red electric scooter on country roads in eastern India, Sanjulata Mahanta has become something of a poster girl for millet since she stunned fellow villagers by planting the hardy grain — and making a profit — three years ago. “People laughed at me and said I was growing grass,” Mahanta, 35, said on…
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Malawi’s communication strategy, modules for Africa on genome editing workshop roars to life
The workshop on validation of Malawi’s National Communication Strategy on Genome Editing and Genome Editing Modules for Africa has roared to life in the Southern African Country. The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) is holding the Expert Group Meeting in Malawi to review genome editing (GEd) training modules that were developed by African scientists, regulators…
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South Africa must tackle crude legacy of environmental racism and toxic exposure: UN expert
South Africa must redouble its efforts to tackle the crude legacy of pre-1994 environmental racism, including the abhorrent practice of intentionally situating landfills and polluting industries along racial lines and in low-income and migrant communities, a UN expert said today. “To this day, the legacy of pervasive air, water, and chemical pollution disproportionately impacts marginalised…
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UN Zimbabwe embraces youth theme on a sustainable world
On 12 August 2023, the United Nations System in Zimbabwe joined the world and Zimbabwe in commemorating International Youth Day. It affirmed this year’s theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World.” The theme was chosen in recognition of the critical role that young people play in addressing global environmental challenges. In essence, green…
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Avenues for cultivating the business face of agro-ecology in the Global South
Writes Charles Dhewa Facing the limitations of industrial agriculture, many governments and global organizations are beginning to embrace agroecology and other alternative ways of producing food. Being the application of ecological concepts and principles in farming, agroecology considers the relationships between all the plant, animal, and human elements in a system. There is some emerging…
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NetOne demonstrates environmental stewardship in clean up exercise
As a pacesetter in demonstrating the importance of a clean and safe environment for all, and as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), leading mobile telephony company, NetOne, yesterday embarked on a nationwide clean-up campaign with its leaders tidying up Harare’s environs. The clean-up exercise was done in observance of the first Friday of…
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Africa has potential to achieve food security and sustainable development
Writes Wellington Madumira Youth Dialogue around food systems, climate change, and actions towards zero hunger in the face of a crisis on food insecurity; A Side event during the 12th Africa Green Waste and Energy Expo 2023 Africa, with its rich and diverse natural resources, has the potential to be a global powerhouse in agriculture…
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BUPUSACOM for shared watercourse promotes sustainable development
The Buzi, Pungwe, and Save Watercourses Commission (BUPUSACOM) was launched in Beira, Mozambique, on 19 July 2023, following the signing of the BUPUSA Water Courses Commission Establishment Agreement in Harare, Zimbabwe on 17 May 2023. The tri-basin institution will have oversight on the planning, development, and management of the water resources within the Buzi, Pungwe,…
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World Ranger Day: Adventurer Holly Budge sheds light into experiences of rangers
Holly Budge I’m no stranger to nail-biting adventures, having summited Everest and being the first woman to skydive Everest, but patrolling with female rangers across Africa has been a whole different beast. These women are bold, changing the game and paving the way for women to stand alongside men at the forefront of conservation, but…
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Recently Inaugurated Zimbabwe Carbon Association Seeks to Contribute to Climate Mitigation and Adaption
The recently inaugurated Zimbabwe Carbon Association, representing many of the major investments in carbon project development in the country, welcomes the Government of Zimbabwe’s effort to bring transparency and accountability to carbon trading in the country and position Zimbabwe as a credible, attractive destination for green financing. The Zimbabwe Carbon Credit Framework, which the Government…
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AfDB, UNEP partner to implement Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Africa
The African Development Bank and UNEP will partner to establish an Expert Group on Biodiversity Finance, which will provide African countries with knowledge and technical assistance The African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org) is joining forces with the United Nations Environment Programme to advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Africa (KMGBF). The framework…
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Origin Digital’s Predictive Analytics Fosters Financial Inclusion, Greater Productivity to Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa
South Africa’s largest agricultural lender, ABSA, says new technology has huge potential to unlock capital for smallholder farmers and SMEs who have previously had limited access to finance Pioneering ag-tech company Origin Digital is poised to help lenders revolutionise the agricultural credit landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa and drive growth in the sector. Providing credit to the smallholder…
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Carbon financing critical for addressing climate change
Driven by the need to halve emissions within the next decade to become a net-zero world by 2050 and avoid climate change, carbon financing plays a critical role in achieving this objective. This came out during a half-day workshop organised by the Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) held in Harare today to unpack…
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Campaigners call for global carbon tax to fund worldwide Universal Basic Income scheme
A new report by global justice organisation Equal Right and economists at independent think tank Autonomy has proposed a new global ‘cap and share’ system that taxes carbon at source and redistributes the proceeds worldwide through a Universal Basic Income scheme. The system aims to simultaneously halt further fossil fuel-induced climate change, redistribute resources in…
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Hakwata Village Pioneers Single Largest Biogas Undertaking in Zimbabwe
In an ambitious endeavour to bring clean cooking energy to rural communities, the largest initiative of biogas in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa has commenced in Hakwata village, Chipinge District, on the edges of Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique. A total of 150 biogas digesters will be installed, benefiting 90 households in Hakwata, 30 in Gororo, Masvingo…
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Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023 launched
The Water Changemaker Innovation Awards 2023 have officially been launched during the kick-off of the largest gathering on water in Asia, the International Asian Water Week in South Korea. The Water Changemaker Awards is a global initiative that recognizes high-level commitment and leadership for climate-resilient water investments and showcases investment-ready climate-resilient innovations with the greatest…
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Tourism minister drives engagement and re-engagement for sustainable development
Under the Second Republic, Zimbabwe’s foreign policy is premised on the engagement and re-engagement drive, and it has stood out as a key pillar of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1). On the 5th of July 2023, the World Food Programme Representative to Zimbabwe Ms Francesca Erdelmann and the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Satoshi…
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Power Up: energy campaign to boost sustainable growth, prepare for climate dangers
A new campaign is calling for government action to widen access to clean, affordable energy – unlocking sustainable growth, and preparing Kenya for climate risk such as extreme weather. The Kenyan branch of Power Up – a global campaign unlocking investment in energy access – launched in Nairobi on July 5, presenting nine policy recommendations for national government.…
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53rd SADC PF Assembly focuses on modernising agriculture for food security, employment creation
The 53rd Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Assembly has roared to life in Tanzania and will focus on the Theme “Modernising Agriculture to Address Food Insecurity and Youth Unemployment in the SADC Region: The Role of Parliaments” and is running from 2 to 8 July 2023. In his presentation at the meeting,…
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Urban Resilience Project gives Epworth a lifeline
Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa The ravaging Covid-19 virus caught many countries off-guard and Zimbabwe is no exception. In this country, disaster risk management and preparedness were put to the test as thousands of people lost their jobs and incomes. Urban hunger and many other hazards rose, especially among peri-urban settlements like Epworth. To help in building…
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Infra for Africa Forum: Landmark Asset Recycling agreement between Togo and Africa50 signed
The Africa50 Infra for Africa Forum kicked off this morning in Lomé, Togo, with a landmark signing of an asset recycling agreement. Asset Recycling is an innovative initiative led by Africa50 for governments to monetize existing infrastructure assets through a concession to the private sector with funds received being reinvested in other priority projects. The…
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Government intensifies climate proof agriculture, targets 700 000 hectares for small grains production
Writes Elvis Dumba Banket – The government is strengthening efforts to climate-proof the agriculture sector from the effects of climate change through supporting initiatives towards increased production of small traditional grains. The government has set a target of 700 000 hectares for traditional small grains under the Presidential Climate Proof Agriculture Scheme locally known as…
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Wetlands conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity stimulate development
As a Party to the Ramsar Convention which seeks to ensure the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation as well as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Zimbabwe remains committed to ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity as well as fair and equitable sharing…
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WHO, multilateral development banks launch Climate Health Fund
Own Correspondent Paris, France – In a landmark development aimed at investing in and strengthening essential, climate, and crisis-resilient primary health care (PHC) services in the global south, three multilateral development banks have joined with WHO to launch a new Health Investment Platform. The Platform launched during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact…
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Paris finance summit: world leaders urged to address debt and climate crises
World leaders attending a summit in Paris today must ensure that wealthier nations commit to comprehensive debt relief for lower-income nations, including the cancellation of loans and the scaling up of international assistance to vulnerable states, Amnesty International said today. Amnesty International is calling on the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact (PACT) to…
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Japan helps boost community resilience in Zimbabwe’s rural areas
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has rolled out resilience-building activities with the support of the Government of Japan to boost food security and improve the livelihoods of nearly 9,000 people in Chiredzi district, in southern Zimbabwe. The funding, a US$ 900,000 contribution coming at a critical time, will help WFP to provide food…
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Sanyati involves schools and communities in environmental management
Writes Chimeno Azriel Kadoma’s Sanyati District joined millions of people around the world to celebrate World Environmental Day.The District enfolded the theme “#Beat Plastic Pollution” to draw attention to this insistent environmental concern and how schools and Communities can improve the quality of the environment. The commemorations were held at Odyssey Hotel in Kadoma. Government…
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Plastic pollution: women urged to proffer solutions
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – Women who constitute at least sixty percent of the country’s population have been challenged to take a leading role in offering solutions to plastic pollution. This was said by Tecla Mupandaguta, the Humanitarian Cluster Chairperson of Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, Mashonalnd West during a belated Provincial World Environment Day commemorations…
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Mozambique and Zimbabwe collaborate on managing shared water resources
The governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe have established a tri-basin institution to manage the Buzi, Pungwe, and Save River Basins’ water resources, which have, over the years, suffered from extreme climate effects such as floods, droughts, and cyclones. The Buzi, Pungwe, and Save (BUPUSA) Watercourse Commission culminated from the signing of the Save Water Sharing…
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Women urged to play a critical role in protecting the environment
Writes Clayton Masekesa Women in Zimbabwe have been urged to continuously play a critical role in sustaining a protected environment and promoting natural resource governance. This came out during the commemorations of the World Environment Day held in Mutare on Monday, organized by the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCOZ) and its partners, where various women…
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Tighten laws regulating reduced use of plastic: ActionAid urges government
ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ) has joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day (WED) that is running the theme “Solutions to Plastic Pollution” with Zimbabwe’s celebrations dubbed #BeatPlasticPollutionZim, bringing attention to issues of plastic pollution and exploring alternatives to reduce plastic use to aid the fight against climate change. Observed annually on 5…
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Zimbabwe gears up for carbon trading
Writes Elvis Dumba Harare – As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change-induced weather pattern challenges, Zimbabwe has joined the carbon trading sector as it gears up its efforts in mitigating the phenomenon. Zimbabwe recently developed and adopted a national carbon credit framework that is expected to guide businesses, benefit communities,…
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European and Pan-African parliaments agree on funding climate change
In a collaborative effort, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Permanent Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, and the Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs have unanimously agreed to support the European Parliament’s Financial Transaction Tax on Climate Action (FTTCA) law. Their resolution further calls upon member countries of the European Union to adopt…
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Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust interrogates climate governance and just energy transition
The Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust is spearheading a platform allowing dialogue, information sharing, engagement, and identification of solutions to climate governance and just energy transition in the country while promoting movement building and improving coordination and consolidated advocacy on climate issues by various actors. This emerged at the National Youth and Climate Change Action Symposium…