Civil Society Organisations Take Lead On Climate Change Issues

16 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have come together to help reach the global target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in alignment with the United Nations Framework Conversion on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

During a two-day meeting at the Cresta Golf View Hotel in Lusaka, the Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) led the resolution in partnership with ActionAid Zambia (AAZ), SNV and Caritas Zambia.  

Although government have developed national policies and NDCs to address climate change, the meeting discovered that actions prioritised within the NDCs were yet to be implemented by the government. Reasons for not implementing these actions relate to lack of research and poor funding being provided to the sector. 

Alongside this, the meeting identified poor implementation of the legal frameworks and inadequate guidelines as other contributors to the slow progress made in meeting its NDCs targets 5 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement. 

Chairperson for the Civil Society Organisations Monica Chundama commented saying “We want to see the NDCs mainstreamed into countries sectoral and national development strategies.” 

With estimated costs to implement the measures proposed by the Government in 2015 to be at US$50bn, with $15bn expected to be provided by the government, and the country’s national debt standing at over 100% of its GDP it is unlikely that Lusaka will be able to provide the funds required to reach their targets. 

Work of the Zambia Climate Change Network is therefore vital to encourage Zambia to reach its targets and re-engage the government to collaborate in Climate Compatible Development efforts. Work such as information sharing and advocacy among stakeholders as well as capacity building at local level in the planning and review of national policies are thought by Chundama to be beneficial to cushion the effects of climate change.