The Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) Coordinator, Lidya Chibambo,has expressed concerns about Zambia’s plans to increase coal production, citing the need for an energy mix that aligns with sustainable development and reduces emissions.
Speaking at a National Learning Workshop organized by the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ), Chibambo noted that while the government aims to diversify the energy mix, it must prioritize renewable energy over fossil fuels like coal.
Kasanda Bunda, Principal Climate Change Adaptation Officer at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, acknowledged the seeming contradiction between reducing emissions and upscaling coal production.
He explained that Zambia, like other developing countries, needs to transition to cleaner energy sources in a just and fair manner, considering its current power deficit and circumstances.
Bunda highlighted that technologies like the one used in Maamba Collieries, which utilizes waste coal in a clean and sustainable way, could be a viable solution.
The workshop, supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), aimed to strengthen civil society voices for climate advocacy in Zambia.
