THE PLATFORM

  Climate Justice Demands More Than Promises: Why COP30 Must Deliver Finance The Global South emits a fraction of the world’s carbon, yet suffers most of the damage. From Zambia to across Africa, communities are adapting with limited resources. Climate finance is overdue and the media must be part of the solution. Zambia is among many countries in the Global South feeling the disproportionate weight of climate change. In 2024, the nation faced one of its worst droughts in decades, dragging down the economy and affecting 87 of its 116 districts. Yet Zambia, like much of Africa, contributes just about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This contrast, low emissions but high vulnerability, underscores a fundamental injustice in the global climate debate: climate finance is not keeping pace with the scale of the crisis. As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025 , climate finance must take center stage. For three decades, leaders have met annually in the Blue...

  Much Effort Required to Attain UNSDGs in the Next Five Years By Raphael Banda This year’s 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)  opened on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with the High-Level General Debates scheduled for  tomorrow Tuesday, September 23, 2025. The session marks a decade since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which set the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). On September 25, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 70/1, establishing the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets aimed at achieving sustainable development by 2030. The agenda outlines ambitious but vital priorities such as ending hunger, reducing poverty, and creating sustainable cities and communities. Now, with only five years remaining before the 2030 deadline, countries must take deep reflection on the progress made and reposition strategies to accelerate achievements. While the world has faced numerous calamities and shocks incl...

      THE HUMAN COST OF POST-HARVEST LOSSES IN ZAMBIA By Raphael Banda The 2024/2025 farming season, brought a lot of jubilations to farmers and the general citizenly across Zambia due to the bumper harvest the country recorded. This bumper harvest recorded which is described by many as ‘ a blessing and restoration of food security’ comes barely few months after the country suffered the toughest drought in living memory. The farmers’ and people’s fixed smiles, were also witnessed during the 2025 (97) Agriculture and Commercial Show which took place on the 4 th of August in Lusaka, Zambia. In as much as we appreciate farmers (writer inclusive), we need to reflect on how we handle and fight post-harvest loss at the individual and national levels. Thousands of farmers across the country of the atleast 2.5 million registered are experiencing devastating reality (post-harvest losses) that eat our food security and income. A good portion of hard-earned crop is ...

  Quality Agriculture Extension services key to attaining Climate Smart Agriculture. By Raphael Banda In most African countries and beyond, farming is a lifeline. This is owing to the fact that it feeds families, supports local economies, and preserves cultural identities passed down through previous and current generations. However, the past few decades, this sustenance has come under increasing threat from something beyond any farmer’s control known as climate change. Its effects have made rainfall unpredictable; seasons commence late or not at all in some parts of the continent. Crops that once thrived now struggle. For millions of smallholder farmers including the over 2.5 million registered farmers in Zambia, the impact has been demoralizing. Despite the setback, a new wave of hope has emerged in the form of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) which is a practical, proven, and people-centered approach that is helping farmers fight back and attain maximum crop yields. ...

  The Green Economy and Climate Change Act no.18  2024- A focused piece of legislation. By Raphael Banda January 23 rd , 2025. Environmental protection wise, the ''Eco-friendly curtains of 2024 brightened their colours on Zambia on December 26th as evidenced by the zeal and determination showed by government and parliament to enact a progressive law which strives to attain Zambia's vision 2030 and United Nations's Sustainable Development Goal number 13.'' On December 26 th , 2024, Zambia enacted the Green Economy and Climate Change Act no.18 of 2024. This progressive Act provides for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation, low emission development, green economy and related actions. The Act also provides for regulation of carbon markets; provides for environmental and social safeguards in climate change actions; establishes the Climate Change Fund; domesticates the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...

  Climate Financing and loss and damage payments are a timely solution. By Raphel Banda Considering the forth coming 29 th Conference of Parties in Baku from Nov 11 th  to 22 nd 2024, discussions around climate financing and loss and damage payments should take centre stage if we are to address adverse effects of climate change. Delegates from both blue and green zones and the over 500 accredited media houses should advocate for more funding towards climate change fight especially by countries in the global south such as Zambia. Despite the scarce funds currently available for adaptation, some Parties to the UNFCCC have suggested prioritization between eligible countries based on their vulnerability to climate change and to develop a vulnerability index for doing so. Iam alive to the fact that Article 4.4 of the Convention commits developed countries to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in meeting costs of ...