By Wallace Mawire
An initiative to be implemented by the Business Council on
Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) on industrial energy
efficiency and efficient water utilization for Zimbabwe industries has
been approved by the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and
prospective technical providers are being sought to respond to the
tender, according to Charles Msipa, BCSDZ Chairperson.
According to Msipa, the organization is currently in the process of
discussing a possible clean technology innovation programme with the
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and
learning lessons from the Green Innovation programme that was
successful in South Africa.
Tawanda Muzamwese, BCSDZ Director confirmed that the project was
approved and is awaiting the selection of the implementers.
“Kindly note that this is a competitive process and which is
independent and objective,” Muzamwese said.
He also said that from the last communication with CTCN they
indicated that they are finalising selection within about two weeks
from now.
He also added that they now stand guided by the outcome and once the
results are out the project will be rolled out.
Muzamwese added that the project aims to increase uptake of
industrial energy efficiency and efficient water utilisation in
selected Zimbabwean industries as mechanisms for climate mitigation
and adaptation.
He said that throughout the process they have been effectively
guided by the National Designated Entity (NDE) under the climate
change office in Zimbabwe, which will continue to do so throughout the
implementation phase.
The BCZDZ is a private sector led organization that was formed 24
years ago by business leaders who were concerned about mainstreaming
sustainability at company level.
The organization has become the largest network in Zimbabwe on
corporate sustainability and its membership stands at over 60
organisations and 400 individuals from the manufacturing, mining,
constructions, service industry, consulting, civil society and
research.
The BCSDZ is global networking partner of the World Business Council
for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) headquartered in Switzerland.
The organization has successfully held key workshops in sustainable
procurement, renewable energy, harzadous chemicals, green products,
bioremediation, climate finance, green industry and industrial energy
efficiency.
The organization has also received support from partners like the
French embassy who sponsored a climate finance conference and HIVOS
and the Zimbabwe Environmental Regional Organisation (ZERO) who have
supported green industry and energy efficiency meetings.
According to the CTCN, due to effects of climate change, Zimbabwe
has already started to experience water scarcity with effects on the
industrial production processes and energy sectors.
It is reported that this unsustainable consumption of water
resources is not sustainable given the dwindling water resources due
to climate change. Climate change adaptation through efficient water
utilisation in industry is a possible strategy that could ensure
improved coping with the effects of climate change through improved
production technologies and improved water recycling capability in
industry.
It is also added that major effort need to be made in all
stakeholder groups such as companies, government and the public to
raise awareness of the national importance of improved water
management in industry and its relevance to corporate goals.
It is added that although most Zimbabwean companies claim to be
energy and water efficient in their production processes, there is
limited monitoring and measurement of water and energy intensity and
comparison with international benchmarks. In Zimbabwe, it is said that
the practice of energy auditing, water foot printing and systematic
emission reduction programmes are very low in most companies except
for the purposes of meeting regulations.
A Green Industry Initiative (GII) formulated by the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with
Business Council for Sustainable Development Zimbabwe (BCSDZ) and
Government of Zimbabwe offers opportunities for achieving an inclusive
and sustainable industrial development in Zimbabwe through minimising
energy intensity and specific water consumption in manufacturing
enterprises.
The Green Industry Project seeks to promote reduction of Greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions and facilitate Low-Carbon Green Growth in the
industrial production sector through promoting climate change
mitigation and adaptation strategies, industrial energy efficiency,
emissions reduction and renewable energy technologies, to include
waste to energy projects.
The GII is a public/private partnership initiative between the
Government of Zimbabwe, the BCSDZ and UNIDO. The GIP agenda for
Zimbabwe focuses on greening existing industries and creating new
green industries which are energy and water efficient. The project
will address both climate change mitigation and adaptation through
improving energy efficiency, adoption of renewable energy technologies
for productive uses efficient utilization of water resources as a
climate change adaptation strategy.
