Govt Gazettes Climate Change Bill

Oscar J Jeke- Zim Now Reporter

The Government of Zimbabwe has gazetted the Climate Change Management Bill, 2025, marking what could be a turning point in the country’s climate governance.

The Bill, which will soon move to Parliamentary Public Hearings, lays the legal foundation for institutionalising climate change management through new statutory bodies, compliance systems, and financing mechanisms.

According to its arrangement of sections, the Bill establishes a Climate Change Management Department tasked with driving national climate action.

It also provides for a National Climate Fund—described as “the establishment and vesting of the Fund” (Section 25)—to finance climate-related projects.

In addition, it creates a National Emissions Trading System and Levy (Section 21) and a regulated carbon trading framework.

The legislation introduces several specialist units, including a Loss and Damage Unit, a Climate Transparency and Compliance Unit, and a National Ozone Unit. It also mandates “public and stakeholder engagement” (Section 16) and commits to the “control of ozone-depleting substances, greenhouse gases and equipment” (Section 24).

However, while the Bill is ambitious, the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organization, which has participated in its drafting and consultations, has raised concerns about weaknesses that could undermine accountability and open the door to abuse.

ZELO notes that although the Bill recognises procedural rights such as access to climate information, public participation, and the right to benefit from programmes, these are presented “only as a guide.” The organisation warns this framing risks rendering citizens’ rights aspirational rather than enforceable.

“If the rights to access information and to participate in climate governance remain optional, they can easily be sidelined when political or commercial interests clash with public accountability,” ZELO argued.

The group has also flagged risks of greenwashing in the private sector provisions. The Bill requires companies to appoint sustainability officers, submit emissions targets, and conduct independent audits.

ZELO warns these obligations must not “be reduced to tick-box exercises that allow polluters to appear compliant without changing practices.” It insists audits should be publicly accessible and independently verified to ensure transparency.

Another major concern is the risk of elite capture of the National Climate Fund. Section 28 of the Bill mandates the “publication of projects financed by the Fund,” but ZELO argues that this safeguard may be insufficient without mechanisms for citizen oversight.

“Zimbabwe has a long history of resource funds being diverted or captured by powerful interests. Without watertight provisions on governance, this Fund risks becoming another opaque pot of money with little real impact on vulnerable communities,” the organisation warned.

The proposed National Emissions Trading System and carbon markets have also drawn scepticism. ZELO fears poorly regulated trading could become a loophole for companies to buy their way out of responsibility while continuing harmful practices.

“Carbon markets should deliver genuine climate gains, not a licence for polluters to continue business as usual,” it said.

Despite these concerns, ZELO welcomed the Bill as a long-overdue step towards aligning Zimbabwe’s domestic framework with its international obligations under the Paris Agreement.