Story by Farai Gwaze
GOVERNMENT has announced a roadmap towards alignment with the Paris Agreement on climate change to unlock financial support for the development of carbon credits.
The focus is on implementing climate action plans that reduce poverty in communities.
The Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife has been actively coordinating a climate policy, including the development of a Carbon Credit Framework (CCF), which was approved by Cabinet in May last year.
In a media briefing in Harare this Thursday, Environment, Climate, and Wildlife Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said the framework aims to promote, institutionalise, and regulate the trade in carbon credits.
“Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr ED Mnangagwa, the ministry is excited to announce an ambitious program to establish Zimbabwe as one of the first parties to the Paris Agreement to achieve full Article 6 readiness. Achieving Article 6, readiness will allow Zimbabwe to fully engage in the international compliance market, guaranteeing the best possible financial returns and full alignment of the carbon market with the national development objectives and an improved investment climate,” she said.
Government has set clear parameters for developers to ensure communities benefit from trade in carbon credits.
“The carbon credits should benefit Zimbabweans. The benefits should align themselves with the vision that His Excellency has, of reducing and eradicating poverty within the communities, because a lot of the forests that people are selling as carbon credits have been kept, nurtured, and looked after by poor communities, so they should be the first ones to benefit. We are developing a guideline on what kind of projects we carbon developers adhere to. If you are taking forests as your carbon credit base you must look at that forest as an economic asset for the poor,” she added.
By ensuring that once marginalised communities benefit from carbon credits, the government is prioritising the needs of its citizens and promoting a more equitable and inclusive approach to climate action.
Carbon credits are measurable, verifiable emission reductions from certified climate action projects that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gas emissions.
