Hichilema Set to Speak as COP27 Kicks Off in Egypt

President Hichilema has arrived in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, ahead of his address to world leaders on the first day of the COP27 environmental summit.

Having flown into Egypt on Sunday, Hichilema is set to speak as part of the statements given by heads of state from around the world on the opening day of this summit. Via Twitter, the president reemphasised that “#Zambia remains committed to promoting #GreenAndClean Economy by encouraging economic activities that are climate smart.”

The summit will take place across the next two weeks and will attempt to address the full scope of climate-related issues that face the world today. On the agenda for the first time is the consideration of funding for those countries that experience loss and damage as a direct result of the climate crisis. This comes amidst ongoing flooding disasters in Nigeria, Pakistan, and many other parts of the world. 

Speaking ahead of the conference, Ephraim Mewpya Shitima of Zambia, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), emphasised the need for developed countries to do more. He noted his “regret”, for example, that the pledge to contribute $100 billion annually to developing countries has not been met. Similarly, it was noted that the IPCC’s estimates for the annual cost of climate adaptation have risen from $140 billion to $300 billion by 2030 and therefore that climate funding should adapt. When asked why African nations should care about the climate crisis, Shitima responded: “we should all care because climate change is impacting Africa’s economy as well as the development trajectory, and its adverse impacts are costing lives.”

Zambia, although experiencing economic growth and aiming to place itself as the breadbasket of the continent, is similarly threatened by the climate crisis. Deforestation, for example, is a significant and well-publicised issue. According to Global Forest Watch, 1.1kha of land has burned so far this year. On top of accelerating climate change by destroying natural carbon storage reserves, rapid deforestation contributes to worsening soil erosion which may ultimately threaten the agricultural development of the country. The government is attempting to tackle deforestation, in part, by creating timber exchanges. This is because, at present, there is a lack of transparency in the sector and so illegal deforestation can go unchecked.

The African Development Bank has described this summit as “an opportunity to spotlight the African continent’s special needs and circumstances.” Ultimately, one of the greatest barriers to climate action is the need for economic growth. Developing nations argue their growth should not be stymied because of the environmental catastrophes ultimately initiated  by the developed world. However, time is running out to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees and sacrifices become necessary for all the world’s nations.

The government of Zambia is attempting to address the climate challenge and growth concurrently. This year a £1 billion pound green growth compact was signed between the governments of the United Kingdom and Zambia. This compact aims to facilitate investment in renewable energy. The 2023 budget also announced tax exemptions for those investing in certified green bonds in a move aimed at encouraging investment in projects with environmental benefits.

Collins Nzovu, the Minister of Green Economy and Environment, recently confirmed the government is in the process of formulating a national climate change adaptation plan aimed at building resilience against the negative effects of climate change. The negative effects of climate change are seen as a significant potential barrier to the administration’s goal of becoming a middle income country by 2030.