Environment and Climate Change
Overview
Zambia is endowed with considerable environmental assets, including 50 million hectares of forest and a rich wildlife estate and protected area system covering some 36% of the total land area. These natural resources are major contributors to GDP (e.g. mining, tourism, agriculture, forestry) amounts to 27% of national wealth in comparison to 2% in Overseas Economic Cooperation and Development countries and are critical to Zambia’s effort to achieve sustainable development.
Our Support
Fostering sustainable development and reducing people’s vulnerability from the risk of climate change, natural and man-made disasters and environmental degradation are key pillars under the framework of UNDP Zambia’s Country Programme Action Plan 2011 – 2015 and the Sixth National Development Plan Vision for the Natural Resources Sector. UNDP plays an important role in sharing knowledge among stakeholders, providing technical assistance to government and supporting civil society organizations, the private sector and communities in Zambia to participate effectively in environment protection, natural resources management and community resilience to climate change and reduction of GHG from deforestationmore
UNDP and the Environment and Climate Change sector in Zambia
UNDP's work on environment and natural resources supports the Government of the Republic of Zambia in programmes and initiatives aimed at integrating environmental protection, natural resources management and poverty reduction efforts in a sustainable mannermore
Our Stories
Bangweulu Wetlands “Where the water meets the sky”
Bangweulu Wetlands is the only place in Africa where the Black Lechwe still occurs in significant numbers. The population in 2005 was estimated at 35,000 butmore
An initiative on diversification of tradable products from protected areas is in the making
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) strategic vision is to help countries meet their sustainable development needs and achieve multiple environmental benefits through an integrated approach. GEFmore
Projects and Initiatives
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United Nations Joint Programme on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction
The UN Joint Programme on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction which is coordinated by UNDP has been instrumental in supporting Government in the implementation of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)-funded adaptation project in the agricultural sector, the development of the draft National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) towards the ongoing development of the draft National Policy on Climate Changemore
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Adaptation to the effects of climate change and variability in agro-ecological regions I and II.
The project emanates from the National Adaptation Plan of Action which highlights the vulnerability of Zambian farmers to the effects of climate hazards, such as, drought, flooding, extreme temperatures and prolonged dry spells.more