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The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has urged the private sector in the country to increase its commitment and investment in climate action as Zambia marks Climate Change Day on May 15, 2026.
Solomon Mwampikita, Lead Researcher on Land, Environment and Climate Change at CTPD, said the call was aimed at safeguarding Zambia’s development gains and future economic stability.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Mwampikita said all stakeholders, particularly the private sector, must strengthen their commitment and integrate investment in climate action into core business strategies.
He said climate-induced shocks were no longer distant threats but active disruptors of Zambia’s national developmental trajectory.
“As the primary engine of the Zambian economy, the private sector must now become the engine of its resilience,” Mwampikita said.
He said the economic risks were significant, as climate change continued to threaten Zambia’s socio-economic progress.
Mwampikita stated that erratic rainfall patterns put pressure on the country’s hydro-dependent power system, reducing industrial productivity and raising operating costs across sectors.
He said the private sector had the capacity to mobilize investment, drive innovation, create green jobs, support sustainable technologies, and accelerate climate-smart solutions at scale.
Mwampikita observed thst the recent drought and energy crisis showed how climate shocks can disrupt economic activity, increase business costs, lower household incomes, and strain public resources.
He added that recurrent droughts had continued to destabilize the agricultural value chain, weakening food security and export performance.
“CTPD therefore urges the private sector to take an interest in green investment and direct capital toward renewable energy and climate-smart technologies,” Mwampikita said.
He said extreme weather events forced the diversion of national funds from growth-focused investments to emergency repairs and disaster response, slowing overall development.
Mwampikita noted that strengthening the economic footing required supporting climate-smart agriculture and the adoption of sustainable procurement practices to mitigate risks across manufacturing and retail.
Mwampikita noted that while the government had continued to implement policies, reforms, and investments aimed at addressing climate change and strengthening resilience, the magnitude of the challenge required stronger collaboration and greater participation from the private sector.
“As we commemorate Climate Change Day, let it catalyze a renewed partnership between profit and planet, shifting from passive observation to active, resilient leadership,” he said.
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