By Tendai Chisiri https://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend/Yw0G3zpfrzgNrMq4VJE/ In a robust approach, Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance through Dan Church Aid held a multi-stakeholder dialogue at meeting a Capital hotel on Monday over the importance of the church in mitigation and adaptation of climate change.
Church has always been at the forefront of climate change action as far as participation in climate change discourse is concerned worldwide thus ACT Alliance country coordinator Sostina Takure – Hove emphasized on the need to empower the church to speak about climate change to their congregants.
Stakeholders who attended the dialogue meeting came from different churches, media, government officials from the ministry and environmental lawyers and the objective was about inclusive,ambitious,and sustainable climate change policies and actions.
“85% of Zimbabweans got to church so if the church speak about climate change at the pulpit, there would be a great reach of people”, said Sostina Takure. Church in Zimbabwe should be conversant with the Paris Agreement and all other international agreements that have been signed about climate change.
Speakers who took to the podium concurred with Sostina Takure that the church mostly Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Muslims portrayed their understanding of climate change through their philanthropic efforts to the cause of climate change which is resounding.The dialogue resonated with the churches members in attendance raring to share what they were learning to others.”We as church are gatekeepers in our society so the issue of climate change affecting is inclusive to the church”, said Sostina Takure. Youths shared their opinion they should also be included in national events and for the ministry to politicize climate change.
Deputy Director in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industries Kudzai Ndidzano applauded ACT Alliance for being benevolent towards the government efforts in coming up with sustainable climate change policies and actions.”It’s 2 years working with ACT Alliance , they have done a tremendous job in helping the Government in any ways”, said Ndidzano.
Climate change scientist in the ministry Tatenda Mutasa, highlighted on the strength of the church and the need for it to be inclusive in the national response to climate change of essence to national disasters like cyclones and drought. Zimbabwe has been hit by Cyclones and drought leaving trails of destruction in rural areas. The church has been giving humanitarian assistance in these times of need.
“There are some instances when one can see that a family has nothing to harvest in some situations where drought would be prevalent”, said Mutasa pointing to a picture of a wilted maize field. ‘Sustainable Development Goal number 13 , Climate Change is a response at international level and as Zimbabwe i in the global village, so we work with other countries to implement it”, he added. He further stated that that the Constitution of Zimbabwe enshrined the right for people to have a clean environment.
Charity Denhere a climate change scientist in the ministry called upon all stakeholders to be inclusive.” Climate Change is upon us and we have to adjust so as to mitigate it”, she advised.
Lawrence Mashungu also a climate scientist with the ministry said Zimbabwe was ready to transition to low-carbon pathways at a practical level.”Activities like Pfumvudza although are regarded to be of the marginalized communities also works on adaptation and mitigation of climate change”, he said.
“Four sectors which are energy, AFOL( Agriculture, Forestry and other land uses, emissions form manufacturing industries like cement and fertilizer and Waste are all being encompassed in the country’s adaptation and mitigation of climate change.” If each and every church goer plants a tree, we are reducing emissions in the atmosphere as trees help in oxygen”, he said.
Zimabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) represented by Clever Gomba advocated for the church disseminate information about climate change He said although Eschatological beliefs, institutional limitations, lack of coordination ad misinformation can be barriers causing churches’ doctrine nowadays to address issues that affect people’s day to day lives.
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