Zambia’s Green Economy Agenda Gains Momentum with French Partnership
Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon. Mike Mposha emphasized the integration of the Green Growth Agenda into Zambia’s National Development Plans, during a visit from a French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs delegation.
Hon. Mposha highlighted that effective accountability frameworks will be established to ensure the successful implementation of the Green Growth Agenda.
Addressing climate change and environmental challenges such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, deforestation, and air pollution is paramount for Zambia’s sustainable development.
“Unsustainable utilization of our natural resources has significantly slowed down Zambia’s economic growth,” Mposha remarked. He recalled the joint declaration signed with France on December 18, 2023, aimed at enhancing collaboration in food security, water sanitation, and sustainable forestry management.
A Memorandum of Understanding, committing 1.46 million Euros to forestry management, signifies a major step forward. This funding, led by the French Development Agency (AFD), will support a comprehensive forest inventory and policy improvements, benefitting forest-dependent communities and bolstering resilience to climate change.
The Ministry has already recruited an international expert through AFD France, and both a steering committee and a technical working group have been appointed to guide the project. Efforts are underway to regularly update data on natural resources to improve policy decision-making.
The French Development Agency’s collaboration is pivotal in promoting Zambia’s green economy and diversifying its energy mix with a focus on renewable energy. Hon. Mposha noted the critical role of energy in Zambia’s sustainable socio-economic development and expressed hope for continued support from France.
Furthermore, Hon. Mposha acknowledged the 193,000 Euros request submitted by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) to enhance coordination for Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission measurement, and the 90,000 Euros Capacity Building Fund approved for the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) for a comprehensive forest inventory.
French Ambassador to Zambia, His Excellency Mr. Thomas Rossignol, reiterated France’s commitment to partnering with Zambia to address climate change, emphasizing that inaction is not an option.
