UNICEF in partnership with Zimbabwean Government have embarked on a clean green school model intiative which is poised on reducing the impacts of climate change through mantaining a clean and green environment foisted by young persons and children.
The intiative is targeted to strengthen resilience to climate shocks through harnessing the power of children and young people as environment stewards and change agents in communities and schools.
They will play a frontal role in providing climate resilient services to allow them to survive, thrive and live in a safe and clean environment
Every child in Zimbabwe (43% of the population are under 18) is exposed to at least one climate/environmental hazard and at risk of climate change impacts such as flooding, drought, heatwaves, cyclones, and air pollution.
Children had been the least responsible in terms of playing a preventative role to climate change.
Urgent action is required to reduce the impacts of climate, energy, and environmental crisis on children, allowing them to realise their potential and fulfil their rights.
Greening schools, communities and cities is key to protect the rights of children and their communities to clean air, nutritious food, secure water, and a safe environment.
The clean green environment intiative is premised on three pillars below:
- Clean green schools with climate resilient, infrastructure and services, skills and knowledge enabling young people to address climate change today and forever.
- Clean green communities inspired with healthy forests and environment, WASH, education services using renewable energy, energy efficient practices and integrated waste management.
- Clean green urban spaces sustained for connecting people to a healthy environment.
The intiative will be implemented through government systems which will be led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and relevant line ministries.
The vehicle to drive the implementation and rolling out of the intiative include and is not limited to awareness raising, advocacy, review of policies, accountability and development of the clean green school model for school and the community.
