STAFF WRITER
HARARE – The border town of Beitbridge will on Monday host the World Environment Day Carnival Celebration at an event running under the theme Reinvent Business Models, evolve company culture and building a more equitable net zero carbon economy.
World Environment Day falls on June 5 as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 and is this year running under the theme “Only One Earth”, highlighting the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes through policies towards cleaner greener lifestyles.
The event will showcase Zimbabwe’s initiatives towards addressing climate change and nature crisis as well as encourage interest towards the establishment of business models that respond to climate change concerns, with Environment ministry expressing optimism on the benefits of the event.
Environment Officer with the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Beavan Ngoshi said: “Projecting from past events, the benefits include enhanced awareness on national and international environmental issues including governance, institutions and processes, platforms for networking for individuals/institutions to mobilise resources for environmental protection as well as proposing priorities, projects and actions for government and partners.”
In line with this, Joyland Reformers – a non-profit organisation involved in advocacy for sustainable socio-economic development to address present and future humanitarian needs – will host a seminar titled Leverage Economic Agricultural Pose (LEAP) with the objective of mobilising the business sector for climate change resilience.
The Environment, Tourism and Climate Change, as well as Youth ministries, the United Nations Development Programme, The Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Food Programme, diplomats and corporate bodies will present papers.
Joyland Reformers director Nehemiah Chipato said the environment, particularly climate change, is a big issue globally and they are looking forward to the event.
“We are geared for the Beitbridge event. As a youth-led organisation, we are keen to see the development of youth-led initiatives that advocate for youth leadership in climate change to push the Stockholm +50 commitment and values for climate resilience.
“We also want to mobilise for green buildings that address climate resilience. We expect corporates to initiate sustainability cultures in their workplaces,” Chipato said.
Beitbridge, which is in Matabeleland South Province, lies in Agro-ecological Region V, one the country’s driest parts of the country, with neighbouring sugar cane-growing estates in the Lowveld relying on irrigation.
