Lusaka, Zambia, 17th January, 2025,
Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE) Acting Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ranford Simumbwe has commended the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) of the UK and the Climate Change Action Platform for the support being rendered to the process of developing the Benefit Sharing and Distribution Guidelines (BSDG) under Carbon trading, aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and find solutions to the impacts of climate change felt disproportionately by vulnerable communities in the country.
Mr. Simumbwe said that government is keen to have an elaborate benefit-sharing regime, with a focus on communities where Carbon mitigation projects are taking place.
The Acting Permanent Secretary also re-emphasised that BSDG is a critical component of the carbon markets for promoting fairness, sustainability and community involvement in climate action in Zambia, adding that the partnership with the UK government will help enhance transparency.
He counselled the meeting to ensure that the BSDG being developed adhere to standards and align with the Carbon Market framework Statutory Instrument No. 66, and the Green Economy and Climate Change Act No. 18 of 2024,
which was recently assented to by His Excellence the President, Dr. Hakainde Hichilema.
He further encouraged the meeting to draw lessons from the Eastern Province jurisdictional Sustainable landscape development project through which the Zambian government is already piloting benefit-sharing mechanisms.
Mr. Simumbwe was speaking during the official opening of a 3 days consultative workshop on Benefit Sharing Distribution Guidelines at Taj Pamodzi Hotel on Tuesday, 14th January 2025.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that Benefit Sharing arrangements are designed to ensure that local communities receive a fair share of the benefits and that the same should be used to support sustainable development and poverty reduction.
Meanwhile, Climate and Environment Advisor from the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) British High Commission, Nicholas Clemenz affirmed that the UK government is committed to continuing working with the Zambian government not only by ensuring that a Carbon Market Framework is implemented and adhered to but also monitoring that climate Change finances are distributed equitably.
Issued by:
(Signed original copy)
Harriet M. Chimuka (Ms)
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