05 November 2021

Following closely on the proceedings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 26^th Conference of Parties (COP26) and having read and reflected on the national country’s position to COP26 in Glasgow,

We acknowledge the commitment by the Government of Zimbabwe towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement by further revising its Nationally Determined Contributions to 40% emission reductions from the initially target of 30%.

Noting that the Zimbabwe Country Position Paper for COP26 focused and prioritized the following areas:

1. Narrowing the emissions gap with new, enhanced 2030 climate targets aligned with a 1.5°C global trajectory.
2. Climate Finance
3. Response Measures
4. Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA)
5. Enhanced Action on Adaptation Loss and Damage
6. Market Mechanism and Sustainable Development
7. Outstanding Transparency issues

WE, the Zimbabwean youths, a more vulnerable group, we also align our views with these priority areas and recognize climate action as an urgent matter requiring critical action. For the country to fully meet climate goals, youth engagement and inclusion is key.

Therefore, we call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to consider the following issues:

1. We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to further decentralize climate change awareness to the grassroots level through incorporating this in the education curriculum and ensure the subject is incorporated from Early Childhood Development level.
2. We call for urgency by the Government of Zimbabwe in the implementation of our NDCs within the targeted sectors especially in Agriculture, Forest and other land uses (AFOLU), and the Waste Sector through availing green grants for youth innovations.
3. We invite the Government of Zimbabwe to consider the effective involvement of all vulnerable groups by ensuring effective participation in policy formulation and implementation of projects for climate change mitigation and adaptation. (Equal representation of all groups especially youths and marginalized populations.)
4. We urge the Government of Zimbabwe to establish a national and subnational financial framework for transparency and accountability.
5. We call upon the Government to immediately strengthen climate governance through the development of a comprehensive climate change legislative framework which will further enhance a more coordinated approach in building a resilient country through a low carbon economy.

These submissions are not exhaustive but represent our position that should be considered by our government as we work together in coming up with solutions to address climate change.

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