Zimbabwe’s urban environs have significant potential to supply global carbon markets with high-integrity carbon credits in exchange for low-carbon output, infrastructure improvements and enhanced revenue inflows, a Cabinet minister said.
The global carbon market enables trading of emissions allowances and offsets to meet climate goals, covering ~80 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) via net-zero pledges.
With over 80 schemes covering 28 percent of emissions, this includes both compliance (mandatory) and voluntary markets, with high-quality, verifiable credits increasingly prioritised.
The market is rapidly growing, with projections suggesting it could exceed US$50 billion or even US$2,7 trillion by 2028.
Speaking at the Climate Change Mainstreaming and Carbon Trading Capacity Building Workshop in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said focus on climate change mainstreaming for Zimbabwe was critical.
“We come together as the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife; the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, as well as urban local authorities from across all 10 provinces, to discuss matters related to climate change mainstreaming with a special focus on carbon trading.
“Whilst carbon trading has been under implementation in Zimbabwe over the past two decades, urban local authorities have largely not been participating owing to limited awareness and capacity,” she said.
“Our urban environs have vast potential to supply the global carbon market with high integrity carbon credits and in turn benefit us in terms of low carbon development, infrastructure improvement and enhanced revenue inflows.”
She said the recurring and worsening impacts of climate change had made it imperative for all ministries, departments and agencies to mainstream climate change in their planning, budgetary processes and activities.
Minister Ndlovu said the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) launched by President Mnangagwa on November 27, 2025, calls for the integration of climate change mitigation and adaptation across all sectors of the economy, including energy, transport, industry, waste, physical planning, agriculture and disaster management.
She added: “My Ministry has, over the years, been working on strengthening the policy and regulatory environment for the implementation of climate resilience initiatives and promotion of low-carbon development.
“The 2017 National Climate Policy, the 2024 Climate Change National Adaptation Plan, as well as the 2020-2050 Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy clearly provide strategic direction in terms of climate action in Zimbabwe.”
Last week, the minister said she officially opened a national process in Harare to develop the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC3.0).
On the sidelines of the same meeting, she also launched a National Action Plan to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants.
“This plan addresses a critical dimension of our climate strategy, focusing on short-lived climate forces such as methane and black carbon. Ladies and Gentlemen, reducing short-lived climate pollutants in Urban Areas is a necessary part of reaching global net-zero and safeguarding human health. So that plan is meant for you,” she said.
“Potential carbon trading projects that urban local authorities can facilitate include methane capture from engineered landfills to generate electricity, manufacture of biochar from sewage, which can be applied in agricultural processes and combustion of solid waste to generate electricity.”
Minister Ndlovu said other projects include the capture of biogas from liquid waste to energy, electrification of mass transport systems through, for example, the introduction of e-buses, urban forestry programmes for sequestering carbon, as well as renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings and street lighting.
She called on local authorities to be on the lookout for project developers knocking on their doors seeking partnerships and/or approval of their projects.
“Before accepting any partnerships or providing approval, local authorities are encouraged to undertake due diligence and assess the proposed projects vis-à-vis your respective local development masterplans, the needs of future generations and other competing environmental, social and economic needs,” she added.
“However, for local authority officials to effectively undertake this role, my ministry recognised that they all need to have a clear understanding of the country’s Carbon Trading (General) Regulations promulgated in May 2025. The regulations establish the Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority, which receives, reviews, and approves carbon trading projects; manages the national carbon registry, including providing support and monitoring to project implementation.”
-herald
