Sustainable industrial development refers to the transformation of a country's conventional industries to ensure their activities are e...
Green industrialization refers to the transformation of a country's conventional industries to ensure their activities are ecologically sustainable.
It has become essential to address climate change and the conservation of resources, some of which are being rapidly exhausted due to conventional industrial systems. As Zimbabwe stands at a critical juncture in deciding the type of green industrialization to adopt, this article explores how decision-makers can navigate this pressing issue.
It is crucial for Zimbabwean decision-makers to steer clear of economic approaches like "de-growth," while also remaining cautious about the philosophy of "grow first, clean up later," as both can present challenges.
Anti-growth is a philosophy that promotes lower national economic activity and the consumption of products and services by households and companies within an economy, aiming to decrease the environmental consequences linked to economic operations and consumption, particularly when fossil fuels play a significant role in an economy's functioning.
At present, it is the wealthier nations that are promoting and highlighting this ideology as a way to restore global environmental balance, including addressing climate change. The issue with de-growth is that it may pose difficulties for less affluent countries like Zimbabwe, which continue to face significant national poverty and are missing various developmental advantages.
This implies implementing a de-growth approach in Zimbabwe would result in the nation remaining trapped in economic hardship and social underdevelopment. This step backward is expected to be even harder to overcome compared to the present challenges.
It might trap the nation in ongoing poverty, while simultaneously strengthening its position as a minor participant in the global economic system.
On the other hand, a "grow now, clean up later" approach, which emphasizes extensive fossil fuel consumption, is becoming hazardous within today's global scenario due to at least two factors.
Initially, the creation and implementation of sustainable technologies are currently supporting the enhancement of innovative capacities in several nations including China, Japan, South Korea, and Morocco.
The exploration of the emerging field of knowledge, production, and implementation of renewable energy equipment is leading to advancements in the creation of other high-tech products and services, including electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems, and more.
It is commonly recognized that research and development linked to manufacturing often spreads into innovations that can also be implemented in the services industry.
This sentence is composed with the awareness that multiple services employ different physical items during the delivery of their offerings to customers.
Therefore, nations that have adopted the shift toward renewable energy are enhancing their overall capacity for innovation, while simultaneously driving swift productivity and economic expansion.
Therefore, nations that are committed to largely relying on fossil fuels may end up missing out on future technological advancements and could encounter potential economic slowdowns.
Furthermore, advocates of the "grow now, clean later" approach must recognize that the period available for economic expansion reliant on fossil fuels is steadily diminishing.
Banks are now hesitant to provide funding for fossil fuel-based power station projects, aiming to encourage the shift of economies toward sustainable industrial growth.
At the same time, global and local regulatory measures concerning carbon-heavy industries are becoming more stringent. The risk of imposing taxes on exports tied to significant greenhouse gas emissions, referred to as "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms" (CBAMs), suggests that nations failing to reduce emissions from their industries could face a loss of export competitiveness in the near future.
Furthermore, domestic carbon taxes designed to support Zimbabwe's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in cutting emissions are also projected to increase over time, complicating the balance between fossil-fuel driven economic growth and NDCs.
The above information indicates that Zimbabwe's decision-makers would benefit from integrating both green growth strategies and conventional growth models reliant on fossil fuels to manage present risks.
Opportunities and challenges
This part outlines the prospects and limitations Zimbabwe encounters in the field of sustainable industrial development.
Emphasis will specifically be on agriculture, industry, the circular economy, the use of renewable energy, essential minerals, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA).
In the field of agriculture, developed countries have demonstrated a stronger dedication to reducing the adverse impacts of farming on climate change and the environment.
They have suggested tackling the above issues by implementing measures like decreasing the use of fertilizers; land dedicated to commercial agriculture; the application of pesticides, herbicides, and veterinary medications, among other substances.
Naturally, this could lead to reduced crop production and increased costs of farm products inside their regions, even though the environment would benefit.
Several nations have demonstrated minimal dedication to modifying their farming industries to better withstand the harmful impacts of climate change. Zimbabwe should be cautious about adopting a similar path, as it does not align with the nation's current underdeveloped condition.
Instead, Zimbabwe ought to concentrate on adjusting its farming industry to climate change, rather than focusing on reducing emissions related to agriculture, in a way that lowers production.
This implies that national focuses should center on advancing farming techniques, managing dry spells, and tackling poor soil conditions, among other issues.
Zimbabwe's lack of investment in farming has resulted in low production, with large areas of land remaining unused.
Local farmers apply less fertilizer, in a region that uses just 30-40kg of fertilizer per hectare of farmed land, compared to the global average of 135kg per hectare.
Fertilizer is primarily imported, and factors like inadequate logistics systems, along with the limited number of participants in the upstream fertilizer supply chain, result in higher costs compared to international average prices.
Consequently, Zimbabwe's national maize production stands at approximately one tonne per hectare, compared to the global average of 4.2 tonnes per hectare for cereals.
There is a chance to enhance the nation's productivity and resilience by encouraging the broad application of fertilizers, advanced irrigation technologies, controlling fertilizer costs, and funding research into drought-tolerant seeds, among other initiatives.
These measures will assist Zimbabwe in strengthening its resilience and decreasing the necessity to increase farmland significantly. Increasing agricultural land, especially when yields are low, can present challenges.
This is due to the fact that deforestation linked to it typically results in increased greenhouse gas emissions, as carbon stored in the trees is released into the air.
Increased funding for high-value agricultural pursuits like horticulture can also bring significant benefits to the nation.
This will involve building strong local industrial and cold storage infrastructure, enhancing regional transportation networks, and securing favorable conditions for Zimbabwean products to enter international markets, among other things.
The continuous production capacity of specific crops positions Zimbabwe to enhance its role in global agricultural exports.
Low- and medium-technology manufacturing sectors, including textiles, apparel, leather and shoe production; the creation of plastic and metal items; and the production of wood-based goods and furniture offer significant potential for the nation to promote sustainable industrial growth.
This is due to the fact that these products consume less energy during manufacturing and can thus be readily incorporated into sustainable supply networks.
Selling these items under the label of "low carbon products" could provide them with an edge in international trade.
Shifting towards eco-friendly production methods in these industries would also assist Zimbabwe in meeting its commitments to cut emissions, as pledged at the United Nations. In this context, establishing green industrial zones, or Special Economic Zones, which bring these industries together in a single area could be beneficial.
Enhancing circular economy skills, including backing sectors that recycle plastics and other discarded items, should also be taken into account.
On the other hand, heavy manufacturing industries like steel, cement, aluminum, and fertilizers pose both a major challenge and a chance in the shift towards sustainability.
The difficulty arises because as a nation progresses to a high-income level, it will require significantly more of these resources, causing them to have a greater impact on emissions than previously.
Nevertheless, working with other nations on research aimed at reducing emissions from these difficult-to-cut industries can be beneficial.
Furthermore, Zimbabwe must be prepared to present its argument for mercy on global stages following the UN guidelines concerning Special and Unique Treatment for developing nations if it does not achieve its emission cut goals.
Tutani works as an expert in political economy. —[email protected]
