Opinion / Columnist
World dares climate change
21 Apr 2016 at 10:04hrs | Views
Crop failure due to erratic rainfall has condemned the population to starvation. Image credit: VOA
The annual Earth Day celebrations on 22 April will this year be marked by the signing of the landmark Paris Agreement (COP21), the historic climate protection treaty adopted by consensus of the 195 nations present at the December 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.
The landmark agreement to be signed by some 120 countries including the United States and China, the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases is a sure show of commitment that the world has finally woken up to the devastating effects of climate change and is ready to stare it right in the eyes.
When signed, the treaty establishes a framework for a new era in with greenhouse emissions mitigation, adaptation, financing and lays the foundation for a future crediting mechanism, underpinned by robust and transparent accounting provisions starting in 2020.
Zimbabwe has committed itself to fight climate change and is stepping up efforts towards climate change adaptation and mitigation seen by its adoption of the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) in 2014 that was officially launched by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year in Harare.
He noted that 70% of the country's population was resident in rural areas and their main livelihood, farming, has been affected by erratic rainfall thereby causing food insecurity hence the importance of the NCCRS in charting a way for climate change adaptation.
Environment, Water and Climate Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said low rainfall patterns experienced over the years have caused the depletion of water bodies in the region, threatening electric energy generation and impacting negatively on food security.
"The government will ensure the national climate change response strategy is implemented to benefit a number communities," she said during the same launch back in November last year.
Zimbabwe's position on climate change was incorporated into the African position that was endorsed at the COP 21 in France in December last year and will be on Earth Day represented by His Excellency President Robert Mugabe at the signing ceremony, accompanied by Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
The country is facing its worst food shortage since 1992 due to the El Nino induced drought that has left more than three million people and their livestock facing starvation.
The landmark agreement to be signed by some 120 countries including the United States and China, the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases is a sure show of commitment that the world has finally woken up to the devastating effects of climate change and is ready to stare it right in the eyes.
When signed, the treaty establishes a framework for a new era in with greenhouse emissions mitigation, adaptation, financing and lays the foundation for a future crediting mechanism, underpinned by robust and transparent accounting provisions starting in 2020.
Zimbabwe has committed itself to fight climate change and is stepping up efforts towards climate change adaptation and mitigation seen by its adoption of the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) in 2014 that was officially launched by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year in Harare.
Environment, Water and Climate Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said low rainfall patterns experienced over the years have caused the depletion of water bodies in the region, threatening electric energy generation and impacting negatively on food security.
"The government will ensure the national climate change response strategy is implemented to benefit a number communities," she said during the same launch back in November last year.
Zimbabwe's position on climate change was incorporated into the African position that was endorsed at the COP 21 in France in December last year and will be on Earth Day represented by His Excellency President Robert Mugabe at the signing ceremony, accompanied by Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.
The country is facing its worst food shortage since 1992 due to the El Nino induced drought that has left more than three million people and their livestock facing starvation.
Source - Matthew Chirambamhanda
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