PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED BEFORE SIGNING THE LEADERS DECLARATION TO END DEFORESTATION IN 2030 AT COP26 IN GLASGOW
By Inonge Sakala (Environmentalist and Climate Justice Inspirator)
Is a decade enough for us to end deforestation or did we sign it for the money? Let’s be realistic when it comes to our climate actions and pledges.
Following the proceedings that have been happening in Glasgow towards COP26, it is disheartening to note that in my opinion His Excellency, President Hakainde Hichilema hurriedly without in-depth consultation signed the Leaders Declaration on Forests to stop deforestation by 2030.
As Zambia was among the hundred countries to have signed the declaration, President Hakainde should have been properly oriented and guided by the Minister of Energy, Minister of Green Economy and Environment and the Department of Climate Change and Natural Resources on the realities of high poverty levels in Zambia which have left Zambians to charcoal burning businesses.
Currently majority of people in Zambia living in rural areas have no access to electricity and are forced to use charcoal and firewood for fuel and heating purposes. The signing of this declaration should have been thoroughly thought out or not signed at all knowing full well that major countries such as the United States of America, India, China, and UK have not signed the declaration to end the use and production of coal domestically. While at the same time the USD100bn pledge for climate financing has not been fully made. African leaders need to wake up and see beyond funding promises and pledges.
This maybe a ruse to blind us so international companies and businesses can benefit from carbon credits and carbon offsetting projects in Zambia knowing very well that is hub for most of Southern Africa’s natural resources. Though we have very minimum skills in the cap-and-trade mechanism and without the climate change bill it will be difficult for us to implement some of these interventions that would help Zambia benefit from the Leaders Declaration to End Deforestation in 2030.
Honestly, President Hakainde Hichilema through the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Energy should have understood the realities of Zambians livelihoods, the country’s energy crisis, and the gaps in policy and strategy implementation of the 2018-2022 National Investment Plan to End Deforestation and the forestry Act 2014.
As the whole world rushes to having a just transition in their energy sectors, production, supply, and distribution should be sustainable, inclusive, and developed in a low carbon manner. Though until government through the Ministry of green economy and environment in consultation with the ministry of lands and the forest department puts the following in place, we are operating the new Ministry like a headless chicken and quite frankly using it to fundraise for the National Budget, but that’s a story for another day.
In order for the domestication of the Leaders Declaration to End Deforestation by 2030 to work in favour of the Zambian people Renewable Energy must be harnessed and accessible from grassroot level. Currently the production, supply and distribution of electricity has not been a hundred percent (100%) inclusive as majority of communities in rural areas still do not have access to electricity in their homes, schools, clinics, and businesses etc. This has resulted to communities cutting down trees and pruning branches in order to satisfy the energy demand in rural areas.
Agencies therefore such as the Rural Electrification Agency would need to scale up projects to rural areas mainly those with the highest deforestation rates.
The President and the delegation attending the Glascow Climate Change Summit should have noted that before signing the declaration projects supporting alternatives to charcoal such as solar, wind, biogas, and simple charcoal palettes made from agricultural waste, food waste and animal and human faeces have not been fully implemented on a large scale in parts of Zambia with high energy demands and high levels of deforestation.
As majority of Zambians in rural areas make a living from charcoal production the immediate signing and domestication of the declaration will have a negative impact on the livelihoods of Zambians and the 2030 target may not be met. Alternative livelihoods and sustainable practices should have been implemented first before the signing of the declaration.
During the illegal Mukula harvesting and trading turmoil (which we have not forgotten) thousands of hectares of Mukula logs where cut down and no project of Mukula restoration is being implemented. Another loss on our part to generate revenue as a country.
The Minister of Green Economy and Environment Honourable Collins Nzovu is fully aware after his fact-finding trip to Mumbwa that charcoal production for vulnerable Zambians is not a hobby but a livelihood. That is how most of them in rural areas survive. Take alternatives to them before you put restrictions on their livelihoods. Or rather the real culprits are those who still intend to buy charcoal even when they have access to electricity or finances to switch to solar and others.
Let us note that the real cause of deforestation is unsustainable and industrial, commercial agriculture 1. This permanently damaged the soil and nothing can grow from it after all the chemicals and artificial fertilizers pit in it. And Land Use practices where trees are cut down and expensive malls are constructed permanently with concrete all over but people want to park I shades. How?
Mr. President let’s not be too quick to sign these declarations without proper consultation. Kaya the delegation ku Glascow mwe elo with ba Pilato also finishing youth spaces in the climate change fight smh people should have one thing that they stand for. Anyway ba pilato we support the help in the climate change fight but no at a critical the like this. Negotiations are no joke.
I SUBMIT