Govt Urged To Be Inclusive In Climate Change Fight

UNITED Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Mia Seppo has called on government to leave no one behind in the fight against climate change.

Her call came amid extensive campaigns to mitigate the effects of climate change, which have been blamed for recurrent droughts, floods, cyclones and mass destruction of aquatic and natural ecosystems across the globe.

Addressing delegates at the launch of the Stockholm consultations in Harare yesterday, Seppo said:  “To reimagine a common, prosperous future on a healthy planet, Stockholm+50 calls for an inclusive approach that reflects the richness and diversity of voices and perspectives of various stakeholder groups.”

“There is urgent need to prevent pollution, limit climate change, and restore nature and biodiversity as an opportunity to improve the quality of life for billions of people of Zimbabwe.”

In a speech read on his behalf, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu said the COVID-19 pandemic had shed light on the importance of a healthy environment.

“In order to facilitate a whole of society and whole of government ownership, targeted consultations will be undertaken throughout Zimbabwe through physical and virtual means included, but are not limited to policymakers and youth, women, persons with disability, private sector, academia, civil society and the media, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he said.