BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– All for developing the globe and Eswatini!
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is living up to its mandate as an Eswatini development partner and it has done so by reserving about E600 million for Eswatini go-green and other climate action initiatives.
This was revealed by UNDP Resident Representative Rose Ssebatindira at the opening of the Eswatini Green Indaba.
“UNDP is honoured to partner with the Kingdom of Eswatini on a variety of pipeline flagship initiatives to the tune of USD 35million (about 600 million Emalangeni), aimed at reducing emissions and enhancing adaptive capacities and building the resilience of vulnerable communities; improving accuracy and reliability of climate information for early warning and action, and harnessing nature-based solutions such as ecosystem-based adaptation practices.
“Increasing access to Clean and Affordable Energy is one of the priority focus areas under the UNDP offer to the Kingdom, outlined in the Country Programme 2021-2025 and Eswatini’s NDCs. I am pleased to inform you that as part of our commitment to reducing UNDP carbon emissions in the country and creating awareness of the need for transition to green energy solutions, UNDP Eswatini, through its global Energy Moon Shoot Initiative, has procured its first fully Electric Vehicle to be powered by a solar charged station,” said the Resident Representative.
Ssebatindira further said the Green Indaba built on another important Country milestone – the Development and launch of the NDC Implementation Plan that recently took place (date).
“With support from the UNDP Climate Promise Fund, this will soon be followed by the Development of the Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy for the country and a Joint Investment Plan for the NDC Implementation Plan and the National Development Plan
“However, these positive milestones notwithstanding, the latest scientific reports on adaptation, vulnerability, and mitigation continue to show how rapidly our window for action is closing.
Indeed, with only seven years left to make good on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, to protect people and planet, spur prosperity by 2030, actions to advance a green and low-carbon future are more critical now than ever before.”
Explaining this, the UNDP Resident Representative said realizing this low-carbon transition, and ensuring that it is, just and inclusive, would require reshaping economic systems, policies and financial instruments and the adoption of innovative technologies and practices. “Capitalizing on green investment opportunities, and mobilizing green financing, is essential to realizing both the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.”
