Zimbabwe has taken its climate action agenda to the global stage, with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi telling the UN Climate Summit that the country's economic future — from agriculture to tourism — depends on its ability to adapt to extreme heat.
Addressing the summit convened by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN General Assembly in New York, Minister Rwodzi reaffirmed Zimbabwe's commitment to the Paris Agreement and its Third Generation Nationally Determined Contribution, including a 40 percent per-capita greenhouse-gas emissions reduction by 2035.
The commitment is anchored in President Cde Dr E. D. Mnangagwa's National Development Agenda for sustainable economic growth and climate resilience across Agriculture, Water, Infrastructure and Tourism.
Heat threatens tourism and food security
Minister Rwodzi stressed that tourism depends on healthy ecosystems, biodiversity and climate-resilient destinations — sectors increasingly exposed to rising temperatures and prolonged dry spells.
She said Zimbabwe's climate agenda is reflected in climate-smart agriculture, with climate-proofing initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa delivering tangible benefits in strengthening resilience and assuring food security under hotter, drier conditions.
She also pointed to mineral value addition through local lithium processing, which has produced more than 16,000 tonnes of lithium sulphate valued at close to US$100 million — a key input for the global transition away from fossil fuels.
Minister Rwodzi emphasised that climate action must deliver economic value, jobs and improved livelihoods.
Zimbabwe to host UN Tourism meeting
The development comes as Zimbabwe prepares to host the first-ever meeting of all UN Tourism Member States for the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027, advancing global dialogue on sustainable and resilient tourism in a warming world.
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