By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Evelyn Ndlovu, has made an impassionate plea for the world to prioritise water resilience and wetland protection as a cornerstone of global climate action.
Speaking at the COP30 High-Level Ministerial Event on “Waters of Change” in Belem, Brazil, Ndlovu urged nations to recognise that “water insecurity is the heartbeat of the climate crisis.”
Delivering her address in her capacity as President of Ramsar COP15, Ndlovu warned that wetlands the planet’s most effective natural defence against climate shocks are vanishing at an alarming rate.
Citing the upcoming Ramsar Convention’s Global Wetland Outlook 2025, she revealed that one-fifth of the world’s wetlands have disappeared in just two decades, resulting in an estimated US$39 trillion annual loss in ecosystem services.
“Wetlands are not wastelands; they are the lungs and kidneys of our planet,”she said.
“Developed nations must honour climate pledges. Water is life let’s treat it as such,” said Ndlovu
Ndlovu called for developed countries to fulfil their climate finance commitments and channel more resources toward the restoration and protection of wetlands, which she identified as vital to mitigating floods, droughts and water scarcity.
As the world prepares for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, Ndlovu urged leaders to transform rhetoric into action.
“We must stop talking and start walking,” she said.
“Let us ensure that wetland ecosystems are central to achieving true climate resilience.”
Reaffirming Zimbabwe’s dedication to sustainable water management under Vision 2030, Ndlovu called for stronger partnerships among governments, civil society and the private sector to implement nature-based solutions that secure water sources and build community resilience.
As climate impacts intensify worldwide from worsening droughts to devastating floods Ndlovu’s words in Belem serve as a timely reminder: the fight for climate resilience begins with protecting water, our planet’s most precious resource.
COP30 is the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, and focuses on how to accelerate climate action and meet global climate goals.
Key discussions include implementing previous commitments, the submission of new national climate plans (NDCs), and addressing climate finance. This COP is particularly important as it marks a critical point for achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to acceptable standards.