COUNTRY ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOME OF COP 25 AND THE EFFECTS OF COVID19 ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOMES – ZAMBIA

This analysis paper examines the climate change landscape in the aftermath of the twenty-fifth session of the Conference of Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The paper undertakes a study on the outcomes of COP25 following the extended period of negotiations having wrapped up on Sunday beyond its scheduled closing on Friday. The COP took more than two weeks of fraught negotiations.

The analysis considers the outcome of COP25 which in a nutshell did not appeal to the international community and failed to stir towards the direction of what science demands for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and maintain global temperature within 1.50C. While analysing the outcome of COP25 and the status of implementation of the respective decisions by Zambia, the COVID19 situation is also analysed to assess how the global pandemic has affected the implementation of COP25 outcomes.

Climate situation in Zambia

Zambia is affected by climate change and is in the bracket of the most vulnerable countries owing to its economics status as a Least Developed Country, being land-locked and other existing conditions that present special circumstances. The country is experiencing climate induced hazards such as drought, floods and extreme temperatures. Zambia prepared the National Adaptation Programme of Action to assist the country in addressing short term and immediate adaptation needs. Extreme climatic conditions have negatively affected food and water security, water quality, energy, health and livelihoods of the people, especially in rural communities. Droughts have caused crop failures and affected hydroelectricity generation. The health effects of climate change related disruptions include; increased respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, injuries and premature deaths related to extreme weather changes. Insufficient infrastructure for water and sanitation has caused disease outbreaks during the flooding episodes as was the case of the cholera outbreak in Lusaka in October, 2017.

Following the formulation of the National Adaptation Programme of Action in 2007, the approval of the National Policy on Climate Change and establishment of a long-term institutional arrangement for coordination of climate change programmes, Zambia has experienced increased investments in climate change actions by government, private sector and civil society.

Zambia’s Participation in UNFCCC COPs

Since becoming party to the UNFCCC Zambia has been participating in the COPs in varying delegation sizes, composition and high level representation. Some COPs have seen the Zambian delegation being as large as 59 and being led by the Head of State with some delegations having as many as 13 non state delegates participating in one of the largest multilateral process. The Zambian delegations are led by the government UNFCCC focal point ministry and endeavor to include other stakeholders as well consideration of gender.