Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
THE government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development following the rollout of Climate Change Resilience Guidelines for State Enterprises and Parastatals (SEPs).
It emerged during the official launch of the guidelines in Harare this Tuesday that despite contributions by the State Enterprises and Parastatals (SEPs) to national development, most of them lack policy roadmaps to Zimbabwe’s climate change agenda.
The guidelines are expected to ensure that SEPs embrace low carbon emissions and climate resilience.
“State Enterprises represent a powerful policy tool for the Government of Zimbabwe to implement policies that will help the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, The SEPs with their significant economic influence and capacity to adopt sustainable practices can play a key role in driving climate action,” said State Enterprises Restructuring Agency executive director, Mr Onesimo Musi.
The SEPs are also considered strategic in achieving the climate change mitigation agenda.
“The adoption of climate change resilience Guidelines for the SEPs is expected to significantly and positively impact the sector, this is against the background that the guidelines will provide a framework for the SEPs to integrate climate change considerations into their policies, strategies and operations, thereby enhancing their resilience and contributing to the country’s sustainable development goals,” Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife chief director, Mr Washington Zhakata said.
The government is dedicated to aligning its climate change policies with the UN Framework Convention and the Paris Agreement.
“In pursuit of the National Development Strategy One aspirations, the government remains committed to aligning its climate change policies with the principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has consistently demonstrated its commitment to enhancing climate change resilience strategies through initiatives such as the National Climate Change Response Strategy (2014), National Climate Policy (2017), and the National Adoption Plan (2024),” said Office of the President and Cabinet, deputy chief secretary, Mr Zvinechimwe Churu.
Embracing climate change mitigation strategies by government-owned firms and utilities is expected to result in Zimbabwe matching the global community’s response to the effects of climate change including drought and other unpredictable weather patterns.
