Zambia ready to reduce emissions by 47%: President

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - President Hakainde Hichilema said Tuesday that Zambia is ready to reduce emissions by 47% if adequately supported by world leaders and global partners.

“Zambia will expedite implementation of activities through development of bankable project proposals to enable the country to access the necessary financing,” Hichilema said in an address to world leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Zambia is willing and ready to support your leadership and will work closely with the global community in resolving this challenge,” he added.

A statement by the presidency said Hichilema affirmed Zambia’s willingness to support and work closely with the global community in resolving climate change.

Prior to the summit in July, Zambia submitted a revised and updated nationally determined contribution to the Paris agreement, spelling out ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% based on 2010 levels by 2030 using a combination of domestic resources.

Hichilema was confident that the global community will deliver from COP26, an outcome for the world to urgently avert a climate crisis.

“For developing and vulnerable countries like Zambia, climate change brings an additional layer of challenges and aggravates existing ones and for the sake of humanity, a positive outcome from this conference is not an option but an absolute necessity,” he said.

The presidency said Hichilema met Prince Charles of Wales and discussed issues of great importance a “green pathway to prosperity" for his country, on the sidelines of the summit.