Mwansa Kapeya in Mexico to attend Global Environment Facility Assembly

Minster of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Mwansa Kapeya, is in Cancun, Mexico, to attend the 5th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly.

Mr Kapeya, who arrived in Mexico on Monday, was met at Cancun International Airport by Minister Counsellor at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Ben Kangwa.

While in Mexico the Minister will take part in roundtable discussions on a number of thematic topics including legislation and Fiscal Policy Support of Sustainable Forest Management and Climate Change Sustainable and Resilient Cities, Mainstreaming Natural Capital in Decision Making and Financing Green Growth.

Other officials from the Ministry of Lands attending the Assembly include Ministry Permanent Secretary Inutu Suba and Director for Environment and Natural Resources, Fishani Gondwe, who is also Operational Focal point for GEF in Zambia.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Gabriel Namulambe, will also attend in his capacity as alternate delegation leader at the Assembly.

The GEF kicked off on Sunday with the 46th Council comprising council members representing 32 constituencies from both developed and developing countries. Zambia was represented by Council member Mr Gondwe.

In his submission during the Council, Mr Gondwe observed that Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is a primary focus in all Southern African countries and that land is the key factor on which all social-economic activities take place.

He added that the Southern Africa region understands that SLM is the anchor in addressing Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Land Degradation in contributing to achieving sustainable development.

GEF is one of the most important international financing mechanisms for Multilateral Environmental Convention and supports projects that are aimed at improving the environment convention and supports projects that are aimed at improving the environment and contribute to achieving environmental benefits around the world.

Zambia is a member and chair of the GEF Southern Africa Constituency comprising, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Ms Suba attended a side event co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and an organisation known as CLASP.

The event highlighted efforts that are paving the way to accelerate energy efficiency benefits for other lighting sectors.

During the panel discussion, Ms Suba stated that there was low understanding from energy consumers in Africa on the need to observe and implement energy conservation measures due to insufficient and lack of proper packaging of information.

She further said that energy and environmental sectoral objectives go hand in hand such as measures that aim to use resources in a more efficient way which in turn yields savings that help to satisfy the raising energy demand.

This is contained in press statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Patricia Litiya.