LocationsReflections from Zambia's 2025 National Human Development Report Launch
Turning the Tide: Dialling Back the Threat Multipliers of Climate Change and Variability
June 26, 2025
Leaders, experts, and changemakers united to launch a report that puts people and planet first. The 2025 NHDR launch calls for bold climate action to protect lives and power progress.
Photo by: UNDP Zambia
Exactly one week ago, Zambia officially launched its 2025 National Human Development Report (NHDR), a bold, data-driven call to action that reframes climate change not as an inevitable crisis but as a catalyst for transformative development.
Under the theme “Dialling Back: Overcoming the Threat Multipliers of Climate Change and Variability,” the report offers a strategic, forward-looking blueprint that connects climate action to economic growth, social inclusion, and poverty reduction. It urges us to shift our gaze from the threats of a warming planet to the possibilities of resilience, equity, and innovation.
“This report equips us with the tools, data, and urgency to act,” said Laurent Rudasingwa, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, delivering remarks on behalf of the Resident Representative. “It shows us what’s at stake and, more importantly, what’s possible when we commit to climate-resilient development today.”
Zambia is already grappling with the realities of climate variability. More frequent floods, prolonged dry spells, and shifting weather patterns are affecting food production, health systems, and water availability, disproportionately impacting rural communities, women, and youth.
Even so, the NHDR offers a message of possibility and a pathway forward. If Zambia fully implements climate-responsive policies, the report projects by 2050:
- A 13% reduction in poverty
- 875,000 new green jobs
- 75% of the population accessing renewable energy
- 1.8% annual GDP growth
- Significant progress on the SDGs, particularly Goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), and 13 (Climate Action)
This report equips us with the tools, data, and urgency to act, it shows us what’s at stake and, more importantly, what’s possible when we commit to climate-resilient development today.
These are not aspirational targets; they are based on robust national data and modelling. They prove that climate action can deliver real dividends for human development.
“The NHDR makes it clear: when policies align with climate realities, human development gains can be protected and accelerated,” said Mathias Naab, Director of UNDP's Regional Service Centre, in his presentation remarks. “This report is a roadmap for turning climate risks into resilience.”
To move from promise to progress, the report outlines critical enablers:
- Strengthening institutional capacity to close the gap between policy and implementation
- Aligning budgets with climate goals to ensure financing matches ambition
- Harnessing innovation and indigenous knowledge to build community resilience
Financing this shift will be essential. The NHDR proposes solutions such as green bonds, a National Green Fund, concessional finance, and risk-sharing partnerships with the private sector to unlock sustainable climate investments at scale.
“The climate crisis is not something on the horizon; it is here, and it is accelerating,” said Prudence Kaoma, the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, who officiated the launch on behalf of the Minister of Finance and National Planning. “But we are not without options. We are not without allies. And we are not without hope. Failing to act now will cost us far more in the future.”
A key highlight of the launch was a vibrant panel discussion that brought together experts from academia, government, civil society, and the private sector. Panellists from the University of Zambia, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, and the Private Sector Development Association unpacked the report's implications and offered practical ideas on climate-resilient pathways.
From locally led innovation to deeper public-private collaboration, the panel reinforced the core message of the NHDR: climate resilience is everyone's business, and collective action is our most powerful tool.
This 2025 NHDR report is a signal of intent, a platform for dialogue, and a roadmap for action. It reminds us that Zambia's development future is deeply tied to climate outcomes. By choosing bold, inclusive, and climate-smart policies today, Zambia can protect lives, safeguard hard-won gains, and unlock new opportunities for generations to come.
This is Zambia's moment to turn the tide.
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