Zimbabwe’s Post-COP30 Symposium Champions Climate Justice And Governs Carbon Markets
In a bold step towards climate justice and robust carbon market governance, Climate Action Network Zimbabwe (CAN Zimbabwe), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, is organising a landmark post-COP30 symposium. Scheduled for 16 and 17 December 2025 at Cresta Lodge Masasa in Harare, the event promises to be a pivotal forum addressing the human-centred and rights-based challenges emerging from recent global climate negotiations.
The symposium, anchored by the Climate Action Council of Zimbabwe Initiative, unites civil society, government, and development partners to synergise efforts in climate change policy and action. Coming on the heels of the 30th Conference of Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, this meeting arrives at a critical moment for Zimbabwe’s climate governance landscape.
At COP30, 193 countries embraced a landmark commitment to triple global climate adaptation finance from US$26 billion to US$120 billion by 2035, aiming to shield vulnerable nations like Zimbabwe from intensifying effects of floods, droughts, and heatwaves. This commitment fuels the urgency of Zimbabwe’s domestic policy responses, notably the ongoing deliberations on the Climate Change Management Bill currently before Parliament.
The Bill stands to be transformative, seeking not only to regulate climate action comprehensively but also to govern emerging carbon market frameworks, including the approval, monitoring, and administration of carbon offset projects. It charts a path to mobilise vital resources for mitigation and adaptation while embedding environmental justice at its core.
CAN Zimbabwe’s CEO, Anglistone Sibanda, articulates the symposium’s mission: “This is not about control but empowerment. The climate legislation must be rights-based and people-centric — unlocking finance and fostering inclusive participation from local communities suffering disproportionately under climate change.”
Among the distinguished speakers is Zimbabwe’s Environment Minister Evelyn Ndlovu, alongside key legislators, civil society leaders, and stakeholders from climate finance, carbon credits, industry, and commerce sectors. Parliamentary and senate environment committee chairs will also engage, receiving submissions from influential market players.
Zimbabwe positioned itself as a trailblazer by establishing a formal legal framework for carbon-credit trading in 2023. Carbon credits—tradable certificates representing one tonne of CO2 emissions avoided or removed—are central to global climate mitigation efforts. Supported by Zimbabwe Carbon Association (ZCA), the sector is pivotal for unlocking climate investment opportunities.
Nevertheless, governance and regulatory challenges remain. ZCA chairperson Nicholas de Swardt raised concerns about the 30% government levy on carbon-credit revenue, warning it risks deterring investors and complicating funding flows through local banks. Furthermore, CAN Zimbabwe points out how the current location of Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority (ZiCMA) within the Ministry of Environment blurs critical lines of oversight, as it acts simultaneously as regulator, operator, and participant — a conflation that may undermine investor confidence.
The launch in May 2025 of Africa’s first blockchain-based national carbon registry, developed by A6 Labs of Dubai, showcases Zimbabwe’s commitment to digital transparency and integrity in carbon trade. ZiCMA acts as the Designated National Authority under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, managing carbon-credit registrations, sales, and transfers in line with international standards. The issuance of Zimbabwe’s first carbon credits under corresponding adjustment regimes in October 2025 further cements its leadership in the carbon market sphere.
However, Sibanda warns that failing to enact inclusive, transparent legislation risks marginalising local project developers. The high costs of project registration and complex regulations currently favour elite actors, to the detriment of grassroots communities and small-scale developers. This contradicts the climate resilience vision embedded in Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which emphasizes broad-based participation, especially for women and youth.
FFA Explainer Box: Carbon Credits
Carbon credits are tradable certificates each representing one tonne of carbon dioxide prevented from being emitted or removed from the atmosphere through projects like forestry conservation or renewable energy.
The symposium will press Parliament to reconsider the Climate Change Management Bill’s provisions to ensure governance structures remain independent and foster fair market participation. It advocates for the ministry to facilitate capacity-building for civil society and the private sector, enabling local communities to advance from beneficiaries to developers of climate projects.
CAN Zimbabwe champions an Afro-centric approach to climate resilience, one that transcends mere regulation and champions innovation, local leadership, and community empowerment. This aligns with global calls for climate justice that place vulnerable peoples and ecosystems at the heart of sustainable development.
As Zimbabwe seeks to harness climate finance and capitalise on carbon markets to address the twin crises of climate change and economic development, the post-COP30 symposium stands as a timely and vital convening. Its outcomes could shape how Zimbabwe balances governance, justice, and opportunity in building a climate-resilient future for all citizens, especially women, youth, and children who bear the brunt of environmental change.
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