The world commemorated Earth Day 2025 on Tuesday 22nd April 2025 under the theme “Our Earth, Our Power,” and we, at Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) join citizens and organizations globally in recognizing that the future of our planet depends not only on environmental awareness, but also on the integrity of the decisions being made to protect it.
This year’s theme is more than symbolic. It is a powerful reminder that the solutions to the climate crisis lie not only in actions such as tree planting or clean-up drives, but in our collective ability to hold decision-makers accountable. Climate action cannot succeed if it is weakened by hidden interests, policy manipulation, or regulatory capture.
One of the growing concerns in climate governance today is the undue influence of corporate polluters in shaping the outcomes of global climate negotiations. At major international forums like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the presence and pressure of fossil fuel lobbyists have diluted efforts to commit to meaningful action. This undermines global cooperation and places nations like Zambia—already vulnerable to climate shocks—at greater risk.
We therefore urge the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, to stand from and principled on the international stage. As the mid-year UN Climate Change Conference (COP) in Bonn approaches, Zambia has a real opportunity to join a coalition of countries pushing for integrity reforms within the UNFCCC. These reforms include:
- Supporting formal policy changes to prevent conflicts of interest and reduce the influence of polluting industries in climate negotiations;
- Advocating for greater transparency by calling on the UNFCCC Secretariat to implement soft but critical changes across climate policy documents that promote openness and accountability.
Zambia’s voice in these discussions matters. Our forests, rivers, and farmlands are not only suffering the long-term effects of climate change—they are also under immediate threat from environmental mismanagement and corruption. The acid spill and other instances of pollution into the Kafue River earlier this year, contaminated water and led to major disruptions and loss, are a clear warning sign. So is the ongoing manganese pollution in Serenje, where communities have reported serious respiratory illnesses and damage to their land—while mining companies operate seemingly unchecked. These are not one-of tragedies. They are evidence of a deeper problem: weak oversight, policy loopholes, and a lack of environmental accountability. And they impact rural and marginalized communities the hardest, depriving them of safe air, clean water, and sustainable livelihoods.
That is why climate justice and anti-corruption must go hand in hand. Environmental policies must be shaped by science, equity, and public interest—not by profit-driven polluters. As an organization committed to fighting corruption in all its forms, TI-Z remains ready to work with government, civil society, and communities to ensure that Zambia’s climate journey is anchored in transparency and justice.
In commemoration of Earth Day, we call on all Zambians to recognize their power—not just to protect the planet, but to demand accountability from those entrusted with its care because our Earth is our power—and it’s time we use it.
Signed by Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z).
Email us here: info@tizambia.org.zm
Visit our website here: www.tizambia.org.zm
