Climate Just Communities Zambia at COP30: reflections on inclusion, resilience, and a just transition

The CJC programme is a flagship initiative under the Scottish Government's Climate Justice Fund, which promotes a people-centred, human-rights based approach to climate action. Running from 2023 to 2026, this £24 million programme supports communities in Scotland's partner countries: Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. As the programme draws to a close, CJC staff, partners and community members travelled to COP30 to showcase CJC’s impact and champion locally led adaptation.

I represented the NIRAS-led CJC Zambia project at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. I am the Project Coordinator for Green Living Movement (GLM) Zambia, one of CJC Zambia's Community Delivery Partners.

As Project Coordinator, I am responsible for coordinating the delivery of CJC interventions at community level in Sinazongwe District — my home district — in close partnership with community members, local government and other stakeholders. My engagement offered valuable insights into how global climate commitments connect with the lived realities of Zambian communities facing climate shocks.

Bringing community voices to the global stage

Attending COP30 offered me the unique chance to connect the lived realities of Zambian communities facing climate shocks with global conversations on climate justice. As a first-time participant at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), I attended the global gathering with a clear purpose: to learn, represent, and amplify the voices of the communities CJC serves.

I participated in three key events. The first was the Voices of Climate Justice from Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia event, which focused on sharing the real-life impact of CJC on participants and demonstrating the importance of climate justice programming and locally led adaptation. I also took part in two additional side events — one centred on resilience and the other on gender equality and inclusion. 

These themes aligned strongly with CJC Zambia’s approach, which places vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and persons with disabilities at the centre of climate action. My aim was to gain a foundational understanding of the conference, representing CJC Zambia in climate discussions, sharing local experiences, and learning from other countries. In both sessions, I was the only Zambian representative present, and I took the opportunity to spotlight how CJC Zambia’s inclusive, community-led approach mirrors COP’s call for a fair and just transition.

Sharing Zambia’s story: inclusion and accountability in action

I shared concrete examples of how CJC Zambia is empowering local communities to participate meaningfully in decision-making, highlighting how women, youth, and persons with disabilities — vulnerable communities once on the margins — are now confidently holding leadership positions because they understand their rights and the value of their voice.

They can lobby for services, hold duty-bearers accountable, and speak up without needing to be prompted. I also gave an overview of Zambia’s climate challenges and how CJC is helping communities mitigate shocks through adaptation, resilience building, and skills development.

Strengthening regional connections

Beyond knowledge-sharing, COP30 opened doors to new partnerships. I connected with colleagues from CJC Malawi and CJC Rwanda, creating space for us to exchange lessons on inclusion, resilience and community-led adaptation.

I also met the Executive Director of the Africa Albinism Network, who expressed strong interest in CJC Zambia’s disability-inclusive programming, including our support to people with albinism through protective gear.

This initiative influenced the Zambian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) to expand the list of free items provided to people with albinism across the country. This connection at COP presents promising opportunities for future collaboration on disability rights in climate programming.

Key takeaways from COP30: gender, equity, and financing

For me, two key agreements at COP30 were particularly relevant to our work in Zambia: the adoption of the new Gender Action Plan and the establishment of the Belém Mechanism for Just Global Transition. These global milestones emphasise:

• Integrating gender equality and social equity into all climate policies
• Increasing adaptation financing for countries most vulnerable to climate impacts

These commitments reflect the principles underpinning CJC Zambia’s work at the grassroots level.

Looking ahead: scaling what works

Reflecting on Zambia’s position and the global direction after COP30, I see a clear need for deeper and wider community-level adaptation work.

Since CJC Zambia is already prioritising climate adaptation and resilience, it would be good to scale up to new wards or districts in other climate-vulnerable parts of Zambia which have been largely neglected by development programmes.

I also emphasised the importance of strengthening gender-responsive climate programming and expanding youth economic participation — particularly through skills development — to reduce dependency, increase literacy, and foster local economic growth.

My participation at COP30 demonstrated not only CJC Zambia’s impact but also our alignment with global climate priorities. From inclusive climate governance to everyday resilience-building, the work happening in Zambia’s communities contributes meaningfully to the international conversation on climate justice.

These reflections reinforce that global commitments must translate into community-led action — and that voices from the grassroots have a rightful place at the centre of climate decision-making.