….. allocates 194 Million Euros to help Zambia in ‘Green Transition’ agenda…
Lusaka, Thursday (November 30, 2023)
The European Union Delegation to Zambia has reaffirmed that the EU will deliver on its 2030 target to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and will become climate-neutral by 2050.
And the EU is happy that President Hakainde Hichilema will attend two EU events in Dubai during the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 on Climate Change.
Speaking in Lusaka at a Zambian media special networking event dedicated to climate change and climate awareness ahead of COP28 EU Ambassador Karoina Stasiak stressed the importance of the EU Zambia Green Partnership that has intensified over the years.
Ms Stasiak said the European Union, therefore, allocated 194 Million Euros to “Green partnerships for the sustainable recovery, growth and decent jobs” in its partnership with Zambia for the period from 2021 to 2024.
She said this represents approximately 65% of its current country budget portfolio.
Ms Stasiak said the EU Zambia Green Partnership is important as it covers a wide variety of programmes and activities.
She said the exercise promotes greener production and consumption models, sustainable food systems, investments in green and digital economy, including circular economy, for the creation of better and decent jobs.
The EU Ambassador said with its Member States and the European Investment Bank, the EU stands ready to support partner countries in their green transition.
Ms Stasiak said the EU will work with other countries to accelerate global action on energy efficiency improvement rates and renewable energy installed
capacity.
“We support the global phase out of unabated fossil fuels and the phase out of fossil fuel subsides which do not
address energy poverty or just transition, and the usage of emission abatement technologies in line wth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) standards in hard-to-abate sectors,” she said.
Ms Stasiak said the EU will support efforts regarding the Development of National Adaptation Plans with targets and indicators and progress on the
implementation of the loss and damage funding arrangements, including the operationalization of a fund.
The EU Ambassador also underlined that the collaboration comes in addition to climate awareness support which is equally crucial to get Zambians on board of the Green transition.
“Climate awareness is part and parcel of Climate Action. Every one has a role to play, government and civil society, rural and urban communities, public and private sector, traditional leaders, civil society, the youth, and of course the media sector which plays this crucial role.
