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The European Union (EU) has pledged €10 million to support the implementation of the Forest Partnership programme with Zambia in 2024.
Additionally, the EU will sign a €4 million contribution agreement with the Global Green Growth Institute in early 2025 to support the implementation of the Green Economy and Climate Change Act.
EU Ambassador to Zambia, Karolina Stasiak, made the announcement during the Second Political Working Group of the EU-Zambia Forest Partnership meeting, held at the Ministry in Lusaka on Thursday.
Ambassador Stasiak emphasized that the Forest Partnership programme highlighted the strong and enduring relationship between the EU Member States and Zambia.
It also reaffirms their joint commitment to addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and economic transformation.
“The EU is compiling a global report on the achievements of the Forest Partnerships to showcase their contribution to the objectives of the new European Commission, which took office two months ago,” Stasiak said.
She added that the EU has established Forest Partnerships with several countries, including Uganda, the Republic of Congo, Mongolia, Guyana, Honduras, and Zambia, as part of a global initiative to promote sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation.
“These partnerships leverage financial resources to support sustainable forest management practices, such as reforestation, afforestation, and forest restoration, while also creating new jobs in the forest sector,” Stasiak explained.
The Ambassador also highlighted that Forest Partnerships were integral to the EU’s Global Gateway, a strategic initiative to promote economic growth and climate action worldwide.
The EU-Zambia Forest Partnership, according to Stasiak, is both ambitious and comprehensive.
It aims to address pressing challenges, including high deforestation rates, forest degradation, and ecosystem resilience, while promoting environmental sustainability, improved forest governance, and the enhancement of technical skills.
“We are partnering to turn these challenges into opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and job creation, ensuring that they contribute to climate resilience and Zambia’s overall prosperity,” she said.
In his address, Green Economy and Environment Minister Mike Mposha urged the EU to further enhance its efforts, especially in light of the ongoing drought, which President Hakainde Hichilema recently declared a national disaster.
Mposha described the challenges as a reminder of Zambia and the EU’s shared responsibility in addressing climate issues.
“As we gather for the Second Political Working Group meeting, we are reminded of our shared objectives, including the goal to reduce the deforestation rate to 86,000 hectares per year by 2030,” Minister Mposha added.
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