We are pleased to share with you the inaugural edition of Climate Voices, the official newsletter of the Tackling Climate Change and Energy Transition (TaCCET) Zimbabwe project, coordinated by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG).
This edition especially focuses on the People’s Counter CoP gathering held in Hwange last week. The event took place under a scorching heatwave, serving as a stark reminder of the pressing realities we face.
Under the banner TaCCET-Zim, a gathering of approximately 150 participants came together, representing Community-Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations, People Living with Disabilities, and Youth and Residents’ Associations. This diverse group of stakeholders highlighted the importance of ensuring that discussions on climate change remain accessible and inclusive.
It must not be prohibitively expensive for communities, especially those most affected by climate change, to participate in critical dialogues. The official CoP (Conference of the Parties) forums need to make room for Indigenous communities and marginalized groups to share their lived experiences—stories of survival, resilience, and hope in the face of climate adversity.
At CNRG, we believe in the democratization of the climate discourse. It is essential that all voices, especially those from the grassroots, are heard in shaping policies that affect us all. Climate change is a collective challenge, and the solutions must be built on the inclusion and participation of every community.
The event provided a platform of care and solidarity where citizens freely spoke about their daily struggles with extreme weather conditions, especially perennial droughts, heat waves, tropical storms, and rising poverty due to weak policy responses to climate change. A survivor of Cyclone Idai which hit Chimanimani and Chipinge districts in March 2019. A delegate from Masvingo spoke of food insecurity and poverty – a concern shared by the Hwange community.
The Hwange community is facing a dire situation, caught between a heavy dependence on coal and the escalating impacts of climate change. Local residents are already grappling with extreme temperatures, severe water shortages, and a rise in human-wildlife conflict, all of which are intensifying with each passing year.
These profound challenges demand urgent and meaningful action. It is critical that stakeholders—government, local authorities, businesses, and civil society—engage directly with affected communities to understand their unique needs and vulnerabilities. Community consultations must be at the heart of policy formulation, ensuring that the solutions developed are people-centered and sustainable.
The time for decisive, inclusive action is now. Only through genuine, collaborative efforts can we begin to address the immediate needs of Hwange’s residents while also building resilience against the impacts of climate change.
The TaCCET-Zim Network calls on the Zimbabwean government to actively engage local communities in the development of climate policies and interventions that directly affect them. The voices of those most vulnerable—particularly the elderly and people living with disabilities—must be heard in the decision-making process.
We also urge the government to significantly reduce the size of its CoP (Conference of the Parties) delegations, limiting participation to essential climate negotiators, and redirect the resulting savings to programs that support the most climate-vulnerable groups. This could include targeted assistance for communities facing the brunt of climate impacts, ensuring that those who need it most receive the help they deserve.
Such actions would demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing climate change and prioritizing the needs of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable populations.
Your statement carries a sense of urgency and collaboration, which is great. Here’s a refined version that maintains that tone while emphasizing collective responsibility and the contributions of TaCCET-Zim members:
Statement on Climate Action and Reflection from TaCCET-ZIM Members:
This is a time for action, not blame. In this week’s edition, we share reflections from members of the TaCCET-ZIM Network on the urgent need for climate justice. Through their personal experiences and insights, our members highlight the disproportionate impacts of climate change and offer their perspectives on how we can ensure that the climate burden is shared more equitably.
As we face the growing threats of climate change, we must move beyond finger-pointing and focus on collective action. Only by working together—drawing on the expertise lived experiences, and contributions of all stakeholders—can we build a more just and resilient future for everyone.