Attend Sadc Industrialisation Week, advocacy groups urged
EXPERTS on climate change have called on climate advocacy groups to attend the upcoming Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Industrialisation Week, which Zimbabwe will host at the end of this month, saying the event will create an opportunity to forge public and private sector partnerships in financing climate-smart projects.
The Sadc Industrialisation Week (SIW) will run from July 28 to August 2, 2024, under the theme: “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development: Towards an Industrialised Sadc.”
Government expects about 300 guests and 150 companies to participate in deliberations during the SIW, which will take place ahead of the Sadc Summit next month. As a region of mostly developing economies, Sadc has vast opportunities for carbon credits, which can be used to finance mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damages caused by climate-related disasters.
Bulawayo is hosting a two-day Climate Change Carbon Markets and Sustainability Indaba which started yesterday.
The event was organised by the Africa Voluntary Carbon Credits Markets Forum, Bulawayo City Council, and Bulawayo Economic Development Agency in partnership with the offices of the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, and Matabeleland South.
It is running under the theme: “Unpacking and Unlocking Zimbabwe’s Potential in the Climate Economy: Driving the Global Sustainability Agenda to Build Climate Resilience.” During yesterday’s session, climate experts unpacked the climate change and carbon credits concepts.
In an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing meeting, Institute of Sustainability Development Finance executive director, Ms Veronica Jakarasi said the SIW came at a time when the Government is bringing together different players in the industry and energy sector.
She said there are transformative opportunities that exist in the energy sector and the role of climate finance to support the energy sector to invest in green energy, which includes solar and hydro.“As the SIW draws closer, what is important as we plan for this meeting is to ensure the presence of the climate advocacy groups and climate investors.
These are real opportunities to bring the blend of stakeholders, those that have the financing and those that have the projects so that they can invest and we can have a greener, better and improved quality of life for the people of Zimbabwe,” said Ms Jakarasi.
She said Zimbabwe has made great strides in implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, saying it reflects commitment towards combating climate change through carbon pricing mechanisms, clean energy projects, and sustainable agriculture practices.
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to voluntarily cooperate to achieve emission reduction targets set out in their National Determined Contributions (NDCs). Under Article 6, countries will be able to transfer carbon credits earned from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Climate Change Carbon Markets and Sustainability Indaba brought together experts from different organisations including Government ministries to deliberate on how climate change is affecting different sectors, mitigation and adaptability issues, and also how Zimbabwe can tap into the carbon market.
Binga Community Campfire Association vice chairperson Mr Elmon Mudenda said that given an opportunity, they wish to attend the SIW so they can tap into different opportunities that can benefit communities back home. He said they work with communities on issues to do with the conservation of wildlife and nature.
“We are advocating for the communities to work hand in hand with investors in carbon credit investments. Presently, we are working with Kariba REDD+ in four districts in Binga and also the Government of Zimbabwe, but our main job is for the communities to take the lead in the conservation of nature and wildlife and natural resources investment,” said Mr Mudenda. —-chroncile
