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Zambia will not support the introduction of a general levy on any Greenhouse Gas emissions in the maritime sector, according to authorities.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, stated that introducing such a levy would have several negative impacts on developing countries, including Zambia and Brazil.
Mposha made these comments during a meeting with Brazilian Ambassador to Zambia, Arthur Nogueira, on Friday, according to a statement issued by the Ministry’s Communications Department on Sunday.
Mposha explained that the levy would likely increase the cost of maritime transport, which could raise the prices of imported goods.
“Zambia, being a landlocked country, relies heavily on maritime transport for its imports and exports through neighboring countries’ ports,” Mposha stated.
He highlighted that higher shipping costs could affect Zambia’s trade competitiveness, particularly for bulk commodities like copper, the country’s major export.
Increased shipping costs could lead to higher prices for consumer goods, affecting the cost of living for Zambians and disproportionately impacting lower-income households.
While acknowledging the environmental benefits of reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions, Mposha noted that the levy aims to incentivize the adoption of cleaner technologies and fuels, contributing to global efforts to reduce emissions.
This aligned with Zambia’s commitment to reducing its own emissions as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
However, Mposha stated that the general levy presents challenges and also offered opportunities for countries to align with global environmental goals and potentially benefit from green investments and regional cooperation.
“The Zambian government will therefore review the general levy on any Greenhouse Gas emissions in the maritime sector and will consider Brazil’s position,” he said.
He also requested technical collaboration between Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology and the Zambia Meteorological Department to strengthen data and information sharing, enhancing meteorological services in both countries.
Mposha noted that Zambia and Brazil, as members of the Group of 77 and China, share common climate change positions and aims to build on that unity.
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