CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Background
The Department of Climate Change and Natural
Resources was created through the National Policy on Climate Change (NPCC) of 2016. The Department became formally fully operational on 1st July 2018
Structure of the Department
The Department is headed by a Director who is supported by two Chiefs; one responsible for the Climate Change Management Section and another responsible for the Natural Resources Management Section. The Department has a total establishment of seventeen staff comprising thirteen technical officers and four support staff.
Functions of the Department
The Department is responsible for climate change and natural resources policy formulation and review, standards setting, and coordinating the implementation of climate change projects and programmes as well as coordinating conservation of Wetlands.
The Department is utilizing the following three policy documents in carrying out its mandate:
- National Policy on Climate Change of 2016;
- National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of 2015, and;
- The National Policy on Wetlands of 2018.
The specific functions of the Department are:
- Formulate and review policies and legislation on the management of natural resources and climate change to protect and conserve natural resources;
- Mainstream natural climate change and natural resources management into sectoral policies, projects and programmes in order to ensure their sustainability ;
- Facilitating research on the management of natural resources and climate change in order to achieve sustainable natural resources management;
- Conduct education and public awareness programmes in order to foster community participation in natural resources management and climate change adaptability programmes;
- Promoting and coordinating bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in natural resources management and climate change in order to promote Zambia’s interest and meet international obligations; and
- Coordinating and evaluating natural resources management and climate change programmes and projects in order to ensure their effective implementation;
- Coordinating and evaluating natural resources management and climate change programmes and projects in order to ensure their effective implementation.