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Environment & Sustainability Guide · Zambia

Environment & Sustainability Guide in Zambia

Air quality, green spaces, and environmental policies

Zambia faces significant environmental challenges from climate change, including rising temperatures and frequent droughts and floods, impacting agriculture and water resources. With limited data on air quality and recycling, sustainability efforts focus on renewable energy expansion and protected areas conservation. Forest coverage supports biodiversity, but deforestation and disaster risks remain concerns.

Air Quality Index

0510

Moderate

6.0/10(AQI: N/A)

Stable trend

Air quality data is limited, with stable trends per database. Urban areas like Lusaka face pollution from vehicles, biomass burning, and mining dust. Rural areas generally better. Government monitors via ZEMA, but comprehensive AQI data scarce.

Water Quality

0510

Moderate

5.5/10

Water quality varies; 65% have basic drinking water access, but contamination from mining, agriculture, and poor sanitation common. Urban treatment improving, rural relies on untreated sources. Cholera outbreaks linked to pollution.

64% safely managed drinking water services (2022 JMP data).

Recycling System

Recycling infrastructure limited; formal rates low, informal waste picking common in urban areas. No national recycling rate data; focus on waste reduction via landfills and composting pilots.

Recycling Rate: —%

Green Spaces

Zambia has 20 national parks and 36 game management areas covering ~30% land. Key sites include South Luangwa and Kafue. Deforestation rate 1.3%/year threatens coverage.

Forest Coverage: 30.0%

National Parks: 20

Protected areas total 42% of land including forests and wetlands.

Environmental Policies

Zambia ratified Paris Agreement, targets 46% GHG reduction by 2030 with international support. Environmental Management Act 2011 regulates pollution. Renewable targets: 52% energy from hydro/solar by 2030.

Key Policies:

•Environmental Management Act 2011
•National Climate Change Policy 2015
•Forestry Policy 2019

Renewable Energy: Scaling Solar program aims for 200MW solar; hydro dominant at 85% renewables.

Natural Disaster Risk

HIGH

Common disasters: floods, droughts, wildfires. 2023 floods affected 500,000; recurrent droughts impact food security.

floodsdroughtswildfires

Climate Change Impacts: Temperatures rose 1.3°C above 1961-1990 baseline (0.24°C/decade 1960-2020). Drought frequency up 20%; floods increased 15% since 1990s. Precipitation erratic, -10% annual trend. 2019-2024 drought worst in 40 years, affecting 6.6M people. No sea level rise impact (landlocked).

Sustainability Initiatives

Renewable Energy

Scaling Solar program added 120MW solar by 2023; national grid hydro 2.3GW, targeting 50% renewables mix.

Reforestation

National REDD+ strategy planted 20M trees 2018-2023 to combat 250,000 ha/year deforestation.

Waste Management

Lusaka integrated solid waste project improves collection for 2M residents, composting pilots.

Wildlife & Nature

African ElephantEndangered

Black RhinocerosCritically Endangered

African Wild DogEndangered

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