THE government says climate change poses an escalating direct threat to the country’s socio-economic development.
Officially opening a post-COP30 stakeholder feedback workshop in Harare on Wednesday, Environment, Climate and Wildlife ministry permanent secretary Tafirenyika Chifamba said Zimbabwe was experiencing severe impacts of climate change.
“We continue to witness erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, increased flooding and even cyclones. These changes threaten our agricultural productivity, our water security and the very livelihoods of our people,” he said
Chifamba warned that the risk posed by tropical cyclones remained acute.
“The threat of deadly tropical cyclones is ever-present, posing a serious risk to lives and infrastructure,” he noted.
Chifamba said government recognised climate change as a major developmental risk under both Medium-Term Strategy 1 and Medium-Term Strategy 2, adding that global indicators showed that the situation was worsening.
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“Temperatures and sea levels continue to rise, while loss of biodiversity is accelerating. The challenge has never been greater,” he noted.
On international negotiations, Chifamba acknowledged that recent outcomes fell short of expectations.
“Our resolve from Denmark was lukewarm, mainly because of limited mitigation pledges and the absence of the United States,” he said.
However, he noted progress on adaptation finance.
“There was agreement to set a new target to triple finance for climate adaptation, to establish a new fund for tropical forest conservation and a frank acknowledgement that we are now unlikely to meet the 1,5-degree Celsius target,” Chifamba
indicated.
He warned that constrained global financing will complicate national efforts.
“As things stand, climate finance is likely to remain suppressed, while the cost of adaptation continues to rise,” Chifamba said.
He urged stakeholders to take ownership of the climate agenda and revealed that the Climate Change Management Bill was nearing
enactment.
“Our Climate Change Management Bill is now at an advanced stage in Parliament and we expect to have an Act in early 2026.
“This will greatly assist in mainstreaming climate change, raising local climate finance and strengthening the country’s climate and carbon policy environment.”