The Africa Carbon Markets Forum (ACMF) has called for a shift in Zimbabwe’s climate change response, arguing that communities through their local authorities must take the lead in climate action, particularly in areas affected by mining and industrial pollution.
This comes as Zimbabwe has in recent years faced recurring droughts, erratic rainfall patterns and rising temperatures, worsening water shortages and undermining agriculture in many parts of the country.
Communities in mining and industrial zones have also raised concern over pollution, deforestation and land degradation, saying they suffer the environmental cost while receiving limited development benefits.
ACMF chief executive officer Anglestone Sibanda said communities were carrying the heaviest climate burden despite being sidelined from development, even as extractive industries continued operating in their backyards.
“The most important part is that local communities led by local authorities must take the lead in climate action,” Sibanda said.
“These are the very same communities that have been left behind in development yet mining and other industrial activities happen in their backyard, large amounts of emissions and environmental degradation and pollution affecting them.”
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He said the Paris Agreement offers a pathway for such communities to benefit directly through Artic.le 6, which allows carbon trading mechanisms.
“The Paris Agreement created an opportunity through Article 6 for such communities to lead in climate change mitigation and adaptation,” Sibanda said.
He explained that communities could earn income by identifying and implementing projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, thereby generating carbon credits.
“When they identify, structure and implement mitigation projects that either avoid, reduce against baseline or remove greenhouse gas emissions they earn carbon credits,” he said.
He also said the initiative being driven by Sustainable Climate Solutions and Paprum Green Projects, a local climate action consultancy and project development company, aims to place communities at the centre of climate action through training and partnerships.
“This initiative seeks to position local communities through local authorities at the centre of climate action by capacitating them and building bridges to stimulate strategic climate change mitigation and adaptation projects so that they earn money,” Sibanda said.
He added that the programme was already rolling out village climate action business units led by women and youths, beginning in climate “hotspot” areas such as Hwange.
“We are building village climate action business units led by women and youths across the country starting with hotspot areas like Hwange and other cities like City of Harare.”
He said the project had already engaged key local authorities, including Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
“Parliament is yet to pass the Climate Change Management Bill that will force every industry player to account for the GHG emissions.
“If the emissions are above a set threshold, there will be penalties this will create a mechanism for local emissions trading whereby such companies can offset their excess emissions through a local carbon credits project enabling locals to benefit,” he said.
However, he said climate action could not be left to government alone, calling on the private sector, civil society and citizens to play an active role.
“However, it is incumbent upon private sector, NGOs and everyone to work together in solving these problems,” Sibanda said.
He said Zimbabwe must move from a model where communities only suffer environmental harm to one where they become direct economic beneficiaries of climate mitigation and conservation efforts.