By Mary Kasoka Mwiikisa- Belém, Brazil
Zambia and Switzerland have signed a new bilateral agreement under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, a development that will strengthen climate cooperation while unlocking new investment opportunities for Zambia.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on the sidelines of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Minister of Green Economy and Environment Mike Mposha described the occasion as a strong demonstration of the two countries’ shared commitment to a greener and more resilient future.
He reaffirmed Zambia’s dedication to meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), noting that climate change requires bold leadership and international cooperation.
“Today’s agreement shows that mutually beneficial partnerships are both possible and essential,” he said.
Mr. Mposha highlighted that this is Zambia’s third Article 6 bilateral agreement in the past twelve months, positioning the country as a credible and proactive participant in international carbon markets.
He added that the partnership with Switzerland opens new opportunities for both countries to meet their climate goals while ensuring environmental integrity and sustainable development.
Mposha explained that Zambia’s climate ambitions span ten key sectors, including agriculture, forestry, energy, transport, tourism and waste management.
“This broad scope makes Zambia an ideal partner for Article 6 cooperation, backed by transparent and accountable frameworks,” he said.
Beyond emissions reduction, the agreement is expected to deliver development gains. According to the Minister, it will support high-quality mitigation projects that create jobs, strengthen community resilience, and advance our national development priorities.
Meanwhile Counselor for the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Switzerland Albert RÖSTI said the bilateral agreement is major development partnership for the two countries which will contribute towards global climate mitigation efforts while advancing green investment in Zambia.
Under the SPAR6C programme, Zambia has already identified several high-quality Article 6-compliant projects, with three approved to date. One of these is a clean cookstove initiative that uses digital monitoring technology to track emissions reductions.