ZIMBABWE’s collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on environmental management and protection over the last two decades has been strengthening, particularly in dealing with environmental crises such as biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution control, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.
Speaking during a meeting with the UNEP acting deputy executive director and corporate services division, Ms Sonja Leighton-Kone in Harare recently, Minister Ndlovu said collaboration between Zimbabwe and UNEP was envisaged to have far reaching positive impacts on the environment, livelihoods and ultimately the economy.
UNEP is the leading environmental authority in the United Nations system and uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional and global levels.
Minister Ndlovu said Zimbabwe made commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) through the nationally determined contributions, in which the country committed to a conditional 40 percent per capita reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors by 2030.
This nationally determined contribution for mitigation of greenhouse gases is estimated to cost US$5 billion and the national commitment was conditional on the means of implementation namely technology, finance and related training, said Minister Ndlovu.
Ms Leighton-Kone appreciated the recognition of support UNEP is providing to Zimbabwe, adding that they will continue to support President Mnangagwa’s mantra of building Zimbabwe brick by brick, towards a prosperous and empowered upper middle income society by 2030.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and executives from UNEP.
The collaboration of the country with UNEP has created an important platform for compliance with the various multilateral environmental agreements, accessing funding mechanisms and resource mobilisation for the implementation of these agreements.
The country has also benefitted significantly through technical assistance for institutional capacity building and policy development to guide transformative projects and programmes.
