The Law as critical tool for Climate Change fight

It’s time to enact and implement climate - focused legislation.

By Raphael Banda

October 3rd 2024.

 The climate change effects have continued to cause shocks on several economies of developing countries in sub-Sahara Africa and beyond with Zambia not being exception.

Momentarily, officials say 87 of Zambia’s 116 districts have been hit hard by the drought caused by the prolonged dry spell in the previous rainy season. Sectors such as Agriculture and Energy, among others, have suffered severe shocks.

To cushion this, government and other like-minded organisations such as the UN, AU and the EU among others have joined hands in putting various strategies in place such as cash for work, relief food and other social incentives to the most affected.

In as much as we appreciate these efforts, it’s time to "Take urgent action" to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating emissions and promoting developments in renewable energy" as stipulated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number 13.

As an environmental journalist and journalism trainer, I apparently believe the fight against climate change through climate mitigation and adaption can be won if some pieces of legislations are enacted or enforced.

We are given guidance by The Constitution of Zambia, Act No.2 of 2016 Art 256 that spells  out  Protection of the Environment and Natural Resource of which each one of us has the duty to co-operate and protect.

To further  meet this dream, like other scholars and environmentalists have written ,I would like to call for urgent enactment of a critical piece of legislation ‘the Climate Change Bill of 2024. This draft piece of law has regulations such as carbon market regulations.

Some of the progressive features and objectives of the Climate Change Bill of 2024 are :

The establishment of the Department of Climate Change, which will surely help in both climate mitigation and adaptation.

The climate change mitigation, low-emission development, green economy and related actions such as Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; The domestication of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

An institutional arrangement for the coordination of climate change interventions; The establishment of the Climate Change Fund; The regulation of the carbon markets and Environmental and Social Safeguards in climate change actions.

All the above features are key in ensuring for example that communities fully benefit from carbon trading for example so that they inspire others in getting involved in the assisted-natural regeneration and environmental protection. I look forward to the day the Climate Change Bill of 2024 will be tabled in parliament either in the current or the next sitting.

Good bye for today… bandaraphael55@gmail.com