The Swedish Energy Agency and the Zambian Ministry of Environment have signed an agreement on emissions trading under the Paris Agreement. The next steps are to negotiate suitable emission reduction projects and sign a binding bilateral agreement.
Johan Hallenborg, Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia, and Dr. Douty Chibamba, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment of Zambia, at the signing ceremony. PHOTO: Bespoke Portraits/SPAR6C
For about a year, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Zambian Ministry of Environment have been in dialogue about climate cooperation. The cooperation is now formalised with a Memorandum of Understanding. Caroline Asserup, Deputy Director General of the Swedish Energy Agency, states:
"We are very pleased about the formalisation of the collaboration between our two countries. International cooperation is vital if we are to meet the challenges posed by global climate change."
Upcoming mitigation activities will contribute to sustainable development
In parallel with negotiating an agreement regulating transactions of internationally transferable mitigation outcomes, the parties are also having discussions about what kind of mitigation activities the Swedish Energy Agency can support in Zambia. Sandra Lindström, Head of International Climate Cooperation at the Swedish Energy Agency, says:
"Together with our partner organisations, we want to develop projects that provide large emissions reductions in the near future, and at the same time affect Zambia's energy system positively in the long term. It is also important that our efforts benefit the local communities and contribute to sustainable development in the country."
Around 85 percent of the power generation in Zambia is based on hydropower. However, because of climate change and reduced rainfall, there are increasing demands for diversification. The electricity supply in the country in unstable and there is a great need for investment and development in renewable electricity production, transmission and distribution, says Johan Hallenborg, Ambassador of Sweden to Zambia:
"The Zambian government has presented a plan that identifies the need for investment in for example solar and wind power. It's very welcome that the Swedish Energy Agency contributes to this development. The investments from the Swedish Energy Agency will be a great compliment to the already ongoing support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency to Zambia and other African countries, for example through the Beyond the Grid Fund for Africa."
Sweden already has Memoranda of Understanding on climate cooperation under the Paris Agreement with Nepal, the Dominican Republic and Switzerland. Sweden also has a bilateral agreement with Ghana.
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Sandra Lindström
