Zambia is confident it will be able to finalise the country’s national climate adaptation plan ahead of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

COP28 is taking place from 30 November until 12 December 2023 in Dubai.

According to Zambia’s permanent secretary in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, Douty Chibamba, the country wanted to be included in the small number of least developed countries that have put forward their national climate adaptation plans to the UNFCCC.

Chibamba went on to add that, up to now, a total of 16 countries in Africa have finalised and presented their national climate adaptation plans, and Zambia is hoping to be included in the next group of nations to successfully do so.

In comments made during a national climate adaptation plan consultative meeting, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment said the plan is a significant milestone for every person in Zambia in working towards achieving resilience to the effects of climate change.

Chibamba continued that Zambia’s national climate adaptation plan and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) together outline the country’s overall response to climate change to shift to a low-emission and climate-resilient future.

“An NDC is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. Each Party to the Paris Agreement is required to establish an NDC and update it every five years,” according to the United Nations.

“This process, therefore, is very critical in addressing the climate change that is affecting the entire globe, with severe negative impacts being felt by developing countries such as Zambia,” the permanent secretary added.