Zambia to Step Up Climate Action with New NDC
Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon. Mike Mposha MP, stated that Zambia is expected to submit the Third Generation Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by February 2025.
During the official launch of the Third Generation Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) Revision Process, Hon. Mposha mentioned that this step is crucial to ensure the UNFCCC can prepare a synthesis report of all submissions.
He emphasized the need for this report to be available before the high-level event convened by the UN Secretary-General in September 2025.
Hon. Mposha highlighted that Zambia is a party to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in 2015, requiring parties to submit revised and updated NDCs every five years.
He noted that Zambia’s initial NDC, or the first generation NDC (1.0), was submitted to the UNFCCC on 9th December 2016. This NDC included both mitigation and adaptation components based on the country’s national circumstances.
The Minister mentioned that the NDC was submitted with a conditional pledge to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions by 25% by 2030 against a base year of 2010 under the Business As Usual (BAU) scenario, with limited international support, or by 47% with substantial international support.
The mitigation actions in the first NDC focused on Sustainable Forest Management, Sustainable Agriculture, and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. Adaptation actions were centered on strategic productive systems, infrastructure, health systems, and capacity building for adaptation.
Hon. Mposha stressed that substantial resources were required to implement these interventions effectively.
He further explained that Zambia submitted its revised and updated Nationally Determined Contribution, or the Second Generation NDC, to the UNFCCC in July 2021. This submission expanded the scope of mitigation sectors by including transport, liquid waste, and coal. The adaptation component was elaborated by developing indicators to track progress in building resilience in human and physical systems.
The preparation process for NDC 3.0 will involve taking stock of implementation status, enhancing the NDC, setting targets, and building capacity for implementation.
Hon. Mposha underscored the importance of NDC 3.0, as it is the final step leading Zambia to 2030. He urged all sectors to play a leading role in developing and implementing the NDC.
First Counsellor EU Delegation, Mr. Matthias Reusing, emphasized the need for countries worldwide to significantly increase their NDCs to achieve the 1.5-degree target set under the Paris Agreement.
He called for leading and emerging economies to follow suit and invest in green, circular, digital, and inclusive economic transformations to meet global goals. Mr. Reusing assured the EU’s readiness to support Zambia across various sectors to achieve these objectives.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Beatrice Musimbi Mutali, announced funding and technical support amounting to USD$200,000 from UNDP Climate Promise and other UN agencies for a comprehensive national stocktake of NDC implementation and the development of the NDC 3.0 Roadmap.
She expressed readiness to assist Zambia in aligning climate actions with national development plans and vision for 2030.
COMESA Climate Change Programme Project Officer, Mr. Lwembe Mwale, commended Zambia’s inclusive approach to NDC implementation. He emphasized the importance of transforming the NDC 3.0 into an investment mobilization tool to attract public and private investments.
