By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE United Kingdom (UK) will work with partners in seeking to pump £50 million of green investment into Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Zambia over the next five years.
Over this period, the UK government will also facilitate at least 500 megawatts (Mw) of new clean energy generation capacity, British High Commissioner head, economic growth and prosperity Sarah Bloom said at the Women Leaders for Climate Action event in Lusaka.
Ms Bloom said about £500 million worth of investment would go into Zambia’s energy sector.
“We committed to ensuring that we listen to women’s voices in all their diversity and continue to support inclusive and climate resilient green growth in Zambia,” she said.
Ms Bloom said the key outcome from COP26 was the review of the Climate Change Gender Action Plan scheduled for next year.
She called on all parties to prioritise full, meaningful, and equal participation of women in design and implementation of climate action.
“In Zambia we want to expand this women’s movement for climate action beyond the group of women chief executive officers from the financial sector we have already established,” she said.
Green Economy and Environment Minister Collins Nzovu, said Government welcomes the collaboration with women leaders for climate action to encourage women to be role models in raising awareness on matters of climate change.
Mr Nzovu said this process would enhance the inclusion of women policy makers aimed at addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.
“This event is timely as climate change has increasingly become a global priority and women form an integral part of the decision making process at global and international level,’ he said.
Mr Nzovu stressed on the need to encourage all women leaders to embrace and uplift fellow women from all levels in society in order to have an inclusive understanding on issues of climate change.
Author
