Tendai Guvamombe (Climate Media Practitioner)
Harare, Zimbabwe – In April 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife convened a crucial Stakeholders’ Feedback Meeting at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Harare to disseminate the outcomes of the Twenty-Ninth United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), held the previous year in Baku, Azerbaijan.
This pivotal engagement aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the key agreements, achievements, and implications of COP29 for Zimbabwe’s national and local climate strategies. The meeting also served as a platform to foster dialogue and gather diverse perspectives to inform the nation’s approach as it builds momentum towards the Thirtieth United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), scheduled for November 10-21, 2025, in Belém, Brazil.
The COP30 agenda will encompass significant sessions, including the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30), the 20th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 20), and the seventh meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 7).
Parallel discussions will also take place during the 63rd sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 63) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 63).The Harare feedback meeting, facilitated by experts from the Climate Change Management Department and National Negotiators across various crucial areas of climate action, addressed several key objectives.
Firstly, it aimed to provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the significant agreements and outcomes emanating from COP29. This included unpacking the progress made on critical issues such as the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, advancements in Climate Finance commitments, the scaling up of Adaptation Actions, and the principles guiding a Just Transition. Discussions also covered the ongoing Mitigation Work Programme, efforts in Capacity Building, Technology Development and Transfer, the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (related to carbon markets), the integration of Gender considerations in climate action, Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), and the crucial nexus between Agriculture and Food Systems and climate change.
Secondly, the meeting fostered an environment for open dialogue between national negotiators and a diverse range of stakeholders, including representatives from the private sector, civil society organizations, academia, and local authorities. This platform allowed for the sharing of valuable insights, concerns, and recommendations regarding the complexities of the Conference of the Parties process and its relevance to Zimbabwe’s unique context.
Thirdly, a significant focus was placed on strengthening partnerships among various stakeholders. Recognizing that effective climate action requires a collaborative approach, the meeting aimed to build and reinforce networks to enhance coordinated efforts at both national and local levels.Finally, the session outlined the roadmap leading up to COP30, clearly articulating the role that stakeholders will play in shaping future negotiations and contributing to Zimbabwe’s national position.
This forward-looking approach emphasized the importance of continued engagement and collaboration in the lead-up to the Brazil conference.While specific details of the COP29 outcomes discussed were not elaborated in the concept note, it is reasonable to infer that the discussions would have centered on key advancements made in areas critical to vulnerable nations like Zimbabwe.
For instance, progress on the Loss and Damage Fund, a landmark agreement from COP27, and further clarity on developed countries meeting their climate finance commitments would have been significant points of discussion.
Similarly, advancements in the Global Goal on Adaptation and the operationalization of the Just Transition work programme would hold considerable relevance for Zimbabwe’s efforts to build resilience and ensure an equitable shift towards a low-carbon economy.
The Ministry’s initiative to hold this feedback meeting underscores the government’s commitment to an inclusive and participatory approach to climate action. By actively engaging stakeholders and incorporating their feedback, Zimbabwe aims to strengthen its national climate strategies and ensure a more robust and impactful contribution to the global climate agenda at COP30 in Belém.
This proactive engagement signals a determined effort to navigate the complexities of climate change and build a sustainable future for the nation.
