Harare — ZIMBABWE should adopt and develop mitigation strategies to combat climate change as devastating floods, droughts and storms experienced over the last few years are evidence that the country is vulnerable to climate extremes, a Cabinet minister has said.

Speaking at yesterday's launch of the Green Ribbon Week, which is running under the theme "Your Planet Needs You -- Unite to Combat Climate Change", Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema said climate change posed the biggest threat to mankind today.

He said science had clearly demonstrated that there was need to urgently take action to avoid irreversible damage to the planet.

"The fourth assessment report of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, states that Africa will suffer the most from the impact of climate change.

"As we speak now, communities are struggling to adapt to changing farming seasons, with some missing out completely and losing out on production, hence impacting on household food security.

"And once a nation is hungry, it is difficult to keep all other factors running smoothly, including the economy," he said.

He said droughts experienced in the country over the past two decades had resulted in reduced surface freshwater availability, loss of biodiversity and shifting of existing agricultural zones, which are all linked to climate change.

Minister Nhema said it was critical for society to know the basic facts of climate change and urged business and donor communities to commit resources towards educating communities about the phenomenon.

In a speech read on his behalf by Councillor Herbert Gomba, who is the chairman of City of Harare environmental committee, Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda said it was imperative for companies that use gases and harmful materials to take cognisance of the need to protect the environment.

"This commemoration must not be observed during this week only, but the exercise must be sustained as the environment is a critical aspect of our lives.

"Our day-to-day operations are based on a clean environment. We must reckon that most individuals and companies have not been taking heed of the guidelines of protecting the environment," he said.

Environment Africa programmes director Mr Innocent Hodzongwe said human activities that are major contributors to possible climate change included those involving coal, oil and natural gas, which, when burnt, release carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse emission.

"Modest contributors to possible climate change are deforestation, rice paddies, cattle, coal mines, gas pipelines and landfills, which produce methane, another greenhouse gas, which today emits about 30 percent as much carbon dioxide," he said.

The Green Ribbon Week is an annual awareness campaign for the environment and is linked to World Environment Day, which is commemorated on June 5.