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The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has urged the government to present the Climate and Sustainability Bill to Parliament for enactment, providing the necessary legislative support for the implementation of the National Green Growth Strategy.
The government launched the 2024-2030 National Green Growth Strategy earlier this year, aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth, reducing poverty and promoting environmental sustainability.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, ZICA president, Yande Mwenye, stated that legislative backing was crucial for the successful implementation of the strategy.
Mwenye commended the government for the strategy’s launch, noting that it aligned with Zambia’s Vision 2030, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She highlighted that the strategy focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable natural resource management and green infrastructure development.
Key areas included sustainable agriculture and food security, green economy and industrialization, human settlements and urban development, waste management and pollution control, as well as education, training and awareness.
“As ZICA, we are prepared to support the implementation of this strategy, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2030 and increase the share of renewable energy sources to 50 percent of the total energy mix,” Mwenye stated.
She noted that the strategy would promote sustainable agricultural practices, protect and restore natural resources and support green entrepreneurship and innovation.
Additionally, it would enhance climate resilience and adaptation while fostering international cooperation and partnerships.
Mwenye also highlighted ZICA’s adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S1 and S2, which were sustainability disclosure standards designed to help organizations report on their most significant impacts on the economy, environment and people and how they manage these impacts.
She pointed out that the integration of financial data with sustainability information was increasingly necessary for informed decision-making, effective reporting, and risk management in business.
“We encourage our government to ensure that 2024 is a year of progress and implementation of the green growth strategy,” Mwenye concluded.
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