The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry is working on setting up three youth desks by the end of next month as a way of giving young people a voice and platform where most of their challenges can be addressed.
Speaking during the handover of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Youth Policy Brief to the Ministry in Bulawayo on Thursday, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said incorporating the three desks will give young people a platform where their voices could be heard.
“It was Cabinet’s decision that every ministry should have a youth desk. For our ministry we have decided to set up three youth desks, one for tourism and hospitality industry, the second one for environment and the third for climate change and meteorological services. By end of October, we want to make sure that the desks have been setup,” said Minister Ndlovu.
He said the desks were meant to allow young people to have focal persons who talk to them on ministry issues and package opportunities in a way that youths could be actively involved.
In terms NDC Youth Policy Brief, the minister commended young people for working tirelessly and making it fruitful.
“It’s been a long journey and you have shown determination. It was not an easy process and you undertook this under very difficult circumstances. Climate change is now inevitable, actions must be taken that help our people to adapt and become more resilient. I urge youths to work with the Government in the implementation of the country’s revised NDC,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe’s commitment to tackle climate change was unquestionable having been part of the global efforts from as early as 1992, when countries assembled and endorsed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Minister Ndlovu expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Climate Promise Initiative for funding the nationwide youth consultations, all youths who contributed to the Policy Brief and all Government officials who were involved in the entire process.
“Importantly, the Government launched the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which outlines policy and strategic direction beginning this year, 2021 up to 2025. The NDS1 has a pillar that focuses on climatic change issues among other environmental and natural resource management issues, incorporating the revised NDCs,” he said.
UNDP resident representative officer-in-charge, Ms Madelena Monoja said the development of the Youth Policy Brief as part of the NDC revision process came at an important time.
She said the Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes with concern that “Global warming of 1,5°C and 2°C will be exceeded during the 21st century unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades”.
“This action cannot be attained by governments and private sector alone, importantly the role of youths in the agenda 2030 cannot be understated. This therefore, calls for a deliberate move to hear the voices and recommendations from the youth bulge so that no one is left behind,” she added.
African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Zimbabwe Chapter (AYICC Zim) programmes manager Ms Elizabeth Gulugulu said more than half of the first NDCs failed to mention children and youths as critical stakeholders yet they are among the most impacted, hence the reason they were included this time around.
She said African NDCs needs the innovation, energy and competence of young people who can advocate for policies that do not contradict with the objectives of protecting the environment.
