Lusaka, Thursday, 1st February, 2024 – Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu MP says the Integrated Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System will enable Zambia effectively participate in the carbon markets.
Durng a meeting on the Integrated Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System for Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contribution at the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) offices, Hon. Nzovu said in 2021, Zambia revised and submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a more ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution by enhancing both mitigation and adaptation actions.
“We enhanced our mitigation actions by adding three (3) sectors namely, liquid waste, coal and transport besides sustainable forest management, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy and energy efficiency, outlined in the first Nationally Determined Contribution,” he said.
He said the target of Zambia’s first NDC was to achieve an estimated total emission reduction of 38,000 giga grammes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030 which translates to 47 percent, with substantial international support, compared to 20,000 giga grammes of carbon dioxide equivalent which translates to 25 percent, under domestic efforts with limited international support, against 2010 as a base year.
The Honourable Minister said in the same vein, the adaptation component of the NDC was elaborated by developing indicators that will enable track progress on building resilience in both human and physical ecosystems and in adaptation actions.
Hon. Nzovu said with the implementation of interventions outlined in the adaptation component of the NDC, it is expected that Zambia’s level of resilience to climate change will increase to medium by 2030 from low in 2021.
He said the importance of the IMRV system and carbon register can, therefore, not be overemphasized as it will help to fulfil the reporting obligations under the UNFCCC such as in the formulation of the biennial transparency reports and national communications.
“As a matter of fact, we need the IMRV system as we commence the preparation of our first biennial transparency report and the fourth national communication this year. Additionally, the IMRV system will inform the revision of our NDC and enable us to effectively participate in the carbon markets,” he said.
And Zambia Environmental Management Agency Director General Mr. Godfrey Mwiinga said ZEMA is honored to be the host of the IMRV system for Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions for strengthening emissions reductions and adaptation actions to climate change impacts and will ensure the country contributes towards global efforts in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.