Zimbabwe’s National Climate Change Response Strategy.

The National Climate Change Response Strategy provides a framework for a comprehensive and strategic approach on aspects of adaptation, mitigation, technology, financing, public education and awareness. It will help to inform Government on how to strengthen the climate and disaster risk management policies. The vision of Zimbabwe’s Climate Change Response Strategy is to create a climate change resilient nation while its mission is to ensure sustainable development and a climate proofed economy through engaging all stakeholders recognizing the vulnerable nature of Zimbabwe’s natural resources and society. The goal is to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in economic and social development at national and sectoral levels through multi-stakeholder engagement. The Overarching Issues in Agriculture and Food Security are: a) Develop frameworks for sustainable intensification and commercialization of agriculture at different scales across agro-ecology; b) Strengthen capacity to generate new forms of empirical knowledge, technologies and agricultural support services that meet emerging development challenges arising from increased climate change and variability; c) Strengthen early warning systems on cropping season quality, rangelands conditions, droughts, floods, disease/pest outbreaks and wildlife movement in order to enhance farmer preparedness.
The strategic objectives are to: a) Mainstream climate change in all the key sectors of the economy. b) Promote resource use efficiency and less carbon intense pathways in all economic activities and develop a climate change resilient energy infrastructure that is not carbon intense. c) Develop climate proofed and environmentally sustainable transport systems that are less carbon intense. d) Promote sustainable development, management and utilization of water resources under changing climatic conditions. e) Promote sustainable land-use systems that enhance agricultural production, ensure food security and maintain ecosystem integrity. f) Develop Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) as a step towards low carbon development strategies. g) Address climate change through evidence-based research, technology development and transfer. h) Promote and protect health under a changing climate. i) Develop an effective climate change communication information management and communication system that facilitates access by all stakeholder groups. j) Strengthen and mainstream climate change in all education curricula. k) Mainstream gender, children and youth, people living with HIV and AIDS and other vulnerable groups into all climate change interventions. l) Develop and maintain an appropriate climate governance framework and institutional mechanisms aimed at coordinating climate change responses.
This Strategy has seven pillars which include: Pillar 1: Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management. Pillar 2: Mitigation and low carbon development strategies (LCDS). Pillar 3: Capacity to effect, Adaptation and mitigation. Climate change communication. Education and raising awareness. Research and development. Appropriate institutions to address climate change issues. Pillar 4: Governance framework: Institutions. Networks. Negotiations. Pillar 5: Finance and Investment: Partnerships. International Financing. Pillar 6: Technology development and transfer, including infrastructure. Pillar 7: Communication and advocacy; information management and dissemination.
The Strategy is guided by the following Guiding Principles: a) Demand driven by national aspirations. b) Country-driven and predicated on national development priorities. c) Aligned with national laws, international obligations and commitments. d) Mainstream climate change into policy and legal framework as well as development planning. e) Mainstream sustainable development. f) Participation and engagement of all stakeholders. g) Response which is knowledge and evidence based that incorporates indigenous knowledge systems, culture and science. h) Access to information. i) Precautionary principle. j) Mainstream the rights based approach.