Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa. Much of the country lies on a high central plateau with mountain ranges along the eastern border. Zimbabwe has a predominantly subtropical climate, but the south is known for its extreme heat, whilst the eastern highlands have cooler temperatures. Zimbabwe has a predominantly subtropical climate, although the southern regions experience extreme heat, while the eastern highlands have cooler temperatures.  According to the 2023 World Risk Index, Zimbabwe faces high vulnerability to climate change and a very high lack of adaptive capacity. 

Key climate change impacts in Zimbabwe are expected to affect water and food security, as well as public health through the spread of vector- and water-borne diseases (UNDP, n.d.).  Between 1970 and 2016, Zimbabwe’s mean annual temperature increased by approximately 0.3°C per decade (World Bank Group, 2021).  Temperatures are projected to rise by between 1°C and 1.5°C by 2040 compared with the 1986–2005 baseline, depending on emission scenarios (ibid.). Average rainfall is projected to decline by about 10 percent over the same period, although projections remain uncertain (GRID Geneva, n.d.).  At the same time, intense rainfall events that can lead to flooding are expected to increase. Around 80 percent of agriculture, which accounts for approximately 67 percent of total employment, is rain-fed, making the sector particularly vulnerable to climate change (World Bank Group, 2021).  By 2050, national water availability per capita is projected to decline by 38 percent due to climate change, with potentially significant impacts on agriculture, power generation, health, tourism, and wildlife ecosystems (ibid.). 

Zimbabwe has submitted the third version of its NDC with a plan for 2025-2035 (Government of Zimbabwe, 2025), identifying adaptation as a key policy priority for the coming decade. The country is implementing various projects with both national and international funding. In partnership with the Green Climate Fund and other actors, Zimbabwe is focusing on initiatives related to renewable energy, integrated waste management, forestry, agriculture, and disaster risk reduction (Government of Zimbabwe, 2021).