Bulawayo, (New Ziana) — There is need for urgent collaboration between government, business, communities, and youth to turn climate challenges into green investment opportunities, a senior government official said.
Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Evelyn Ndlovu said this on Thursday in an address to the Sustainability Week and Green Business Expo in Bulawayo. The sustainability week is designed to translate national climate frameworks into sector specific action.
Through the conferences, this event will attract funding for green projects across key sectors by showcasing investment ready opportunities in sustainable mining, regenerate smart agriculture, tourism, biodiversity and climate resilient urban infrastructure.
Ndlovu highlighted that climate change is not just an environmental concern but a socio‑economic one, touching every sector of development. “Climate action is not the responsibility of government alone. It demands collaboration across ministries, civil society, academia, the private sector, and international partners,” she said.
She said initiatives such as the Green Business expo fed directly into existing national frameworks, including the National Climate Policy, the Low Emission Development Strategy (2023‑2025), the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
“Our policy permits us to recognise that climate change is a cross‑cutting issue that affects all parts of social and economic development,” she said. Ndlovu stressed that all sectors such as agriculture, mining, wetlands, social governance, business and environment must be aligned to ensure coherent, actionable responses.
She challenged the private sector to view climate responsibilities not as a cost but opportunity. “To the private sector, see waste not as a liability, but as a business opportunity,” she said.
Ndlovu encouraged investment in waste‑to‑value chains such as composting plants, biogas digesters, organic waste management, as key avenues for both environmental protection and economic gain.
“Agricultural waste is one such frontier. Improperly managed, it contributes to methane emissions, soil degradation and water pollution. “But when harnessed correctly, it becomes a resource, compost, biogas, organic fertilizer, and even animal feed. This is the essence of circularity, turning waste into wealth,” she explained.
Ndlovu called for inclusive conversations involving youth, women, development partners, local authorities, civil society and those most vulnerable. “No one should be left behind.
We must empower youths, women and farmer co‑operatives to lead green enterprises. “Our vocational centres and universities are incubating home‑grown technologies, let us harness them,” she said.
New Ziana
