Lusaka, 9 June 2025 – Today, the European Union and Zambia held a dedicated political dialogue on climate change and the environment, co-chaired by the Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon. Mike Mposha, MP and Ambassador of the European Union to Zambia H.E. Karolina Stasiak. Ambassadors of EU Member States resident in Zambia attended the meeting, which is an integral part of the EU-Zambia Partnership Dialogue held on 16 April 2025 in line with the Samoa Agreement between the EU and ACP countries. 

The European Union and its Member States continue to partner with Zambia in advancing a green and digital transformation, climate change adaptation and environmental responsibility as key crosscutting priorities of sustainable development in Zambia. Key areas of collaboration include the circular economy, clean energy, climate, water, forestry, biodiversity, skills, innovation and access to green finance for SMEs. The EU has been a key partner in supporting Zambia’s Green Growth Strategy and the enactment of the Green Economy and Climate Change Act.

Today’s discussions focused among others on the implementation of these reforms and aligning national action with global climate goals ahead of COP30 in Brazil in November, where countries are expected to submit ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to advance the global action against climate change. The EU reaffirmed its support for Zambia’s climate commitments, including implementation of its NDC and development of a robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system, through a EUR 4 million EU-funded project implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute. Zambia and the EU have a shared ambition for climate-neutral growth rooted in sustainable resource management, transparency, and inclusive policymaking.

The partners also discussed environmental governance, including the EU-Zambia Forest Partnership - a cooperation platform that promotes forest conservation, biodiversity protection, sustainable livelihoods, and green job creation, in alignment with the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy and Zambia’s national priorities on climate action. Zambia is one of only six countries globally to have concluded such partnership with the European Union. To boost its implementation, the EU and Zambia established a political dialogue on Forest Partnership promoting effective coordination among all key Ministries and governmental agencies involved in forest, land, and natural resources management. 

Recent environmental emergencies—such as the collapse of the tailings dam in Chambishi and the release of toxic waste into the Kafue River—highlight the urgent need for a solid legal framework, crisis and disaster preparedness, accountability on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and environmental justice. The EU called for a robust enforcement of legal frameworks to prevent such incidents and to uphold responsible mining practices, demanding the same high-level standards and compliance from all stakeholders involved in mining practices. It is also essential that actors responsible for the disaster affecting thousands of Zambians take necessary action to mitigate the environmental impact, in line with the “polluter pays” principle, as defined in the Zambian Constitution. This is particularly important when it comes to mining activities in and near protected areas, where environmental impact assessments must include strong recommendations on prevention, mitigation and compensation.

Contact for more information: Ms Nchimunya Mweemba, Press & Information Officer, EU Delegation to Zambia and COMESA. Email: Nchimunya.Mweemba@eeas.europa.eu; Telephone: +260 970007092