President Emmerson Mnangagwa has urged Zimbabwe to adopt a collective approach in crafting home-grown solutions to address the growing threat of climate change.
Speaking at the third edition of the Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference on Monday, Mnangagwa pointed out that while Zimbabwe has defied the negative impacts of sanctions, climate change remains a major barrier to the nation’s sustainable development.
"It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to promote home-grown solutions for mitigation and adaptation in order to foster consensus and inclusivity," he was quoted as saying.
He urged reforms in the global financial system and quick action on national debt to free up funds for climate change initiatives. Zimbabwe aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% per capita by 2030, focusing on renewable energy, tree planting, and sustainable forestry, local media reported.
Mnangagwa also encouraged business leaders to invest in infrastructure for adding value to minerals, especially clean energy minerals like lithium, crucial for batteries and electric cars. He stressed the importance of creating industries in rural areas to boost incomes and revitalize local economies using Zimbabwe's resources and technology.
"I, therefore, challenge captains of industry to seize this opportunity by investing in infrastructure that facilitates value addition of these minerals towards transforming Zimbabwe into a hub for sustainable, cutting-edge technology," he said, as cited by media.
Wrapping up his speech, Zimbabwe's leader called on young people in higher education to leverage innovation hubs and industrial parks to find solutions to climate change challenges. He also noted that countries with low carbon emissions like Zimbabwe suffer the most from climate change, despite contributing little to it.