Nature Climate Energy

NATURE CLIMATE ENERGY

Brief Description

The Unit supports the implementation of national policies, strategies, and targets set under national development plans focusing on the climate change, energy, agriculture, forestry, environment, waste management, and disaster risk reduction, bringing benefits to rural and urban poor particularly youth and women in most fragile landscapes and vulnerable situations through projects. Specifically, the unit aims to: Address climate change; Combat biodiversity loss; Ensure sustainable energy access through cross-sectoral collaboration, catalyze transformative change, and integrate environmental sustainability into development.

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Situation/Challenges

1. Drought occurs in Zimbabwe every 3–5 years, with El Niño events causing widespread crop and livestock losses, reduced productivity, and livelihoods.
2. Agriculture employs about 70% of the population and is highly impacted by extreme weather events.
3. Weak early warning systems limit Zimbabwe's ability to prepare for and mitigate extreme weather, exposing key sectors to significant risks.
4. Zimbabwe faces a severe power crisis, with a national electrification rate of 62% and rural areas at just 34%.
5. Zimbabwe struggles with deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation, losing 320,000 hectares of forest annually.
6. In 2017, the energy sector (33%) and Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector (54%) were the largest contributors to emissions, followed by industrial processes and waste.

Engagement Areas

1. Improved Early Warning Systems
2. Climate-proofing Agricultural Production
3. Enhanced Access to Clean, Renewable Energy
4. Strengthening Institutional and Policy Frameworks

Partners, Development and Implementing

1. Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Energy, Rural Electrification Fund
2. Ministry of Environment Climate and Wildlife
3. Ministry of Lands Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development
4. Ministry of Environment Climate and Wildlife
5. Ministry of Environment Climate and Wildlife; ZimParks, Forestry Commission, EMA
6. UNESCO, UNWOMEN, OLD Mutual
7. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
8. Green Climate Fund
9. Global Environment Facility
10. UNDP

ACHIEVEMENTS

Climate proofing agricultural livelihood

Reducing dependence on rainfed agriculture, which is increasingly unreliable due to climate change, by rehabilitating irrigation schemes to boost water and energy efficiency. Collaborating with MSD and ZINWA to enhance access to weather, climate, and hydrological information.

Support to national policies and strategies

Provide technical assistance to enhance national institutions and support reviewing and formulating key policies and strategies, such as the National Clean Cooking Strategy, the Climate Change Bill, the Investment Framework for Nationally Determined Contributions, the Wildlife Policy, and the Framework for International Carbon Market Engagement.

Adoption of Ozone and Climate friendly refrigerants

Reduction of HCFC-22 through the adoption of energy-efficient, ozone and climate-friendly refrigerants in the RAC sector, consistent with the provisions of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

Sustainable Natural Resources Management

Promoted an integrated landscape approach to managing wildlife resources, biodiversity, and ecosystems, particularly within Zimbabwe's protected areas and the Mid to Lower Zambezi regions. The focus includes reducing mid to Lower Zambezi Valley poaching, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and addressing land degradation and deforestation.