Climate Management Bill approved

THE Cabinet on Tuesday approved principles of the Climate Change Management
Bill, which was presented by the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife,
Mangaliso Ndhlovu.

The Bill will provide for the national climate change response through integration of
climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in development planning and
budgeting processes, according to the Minister of Information, Publicity and
Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere.

“The proposed Bill will provide for the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions,
facilitate low carbon development technologies and carbon trading as well as putting
in place measures to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances,” he said.

It will also create obligations for the public and private sector stakeholders to collect,
archive and share activity data that is used in the compilation of national greenhouse
gas inventories, climate risk and vulnerability impacts.

“The Bill will also provide for the establishment of the Designated National Authority
(DNA) and the National Climate Fund to support the implementation of climate
change adaptation and mitigation actions provided for in the National Climate Policy.

“The Fund will be financed by a percentage of the proceeds from carbon credits
trading, the fiscus, and multilateral climate finance mechanisms, such as the Green
Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund among others,” Minister Muswere said.

Barbara Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, said Zimbabwe’s
position on the use of fossil energy, emissions of gases and other related issues will
be made known at the Conference of Parties (COP) being held in Dubai.

“But what has been agreed is that developed nations should assist developing
countries with money to come up with smart energy mechanisms and stop using
fossil fuel,” she said.