Fresh push for carbon trade
DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed local authorities to partner with the Vice-President’s Office to empower youths in carbon trading and adopt modern waste recycling technologies for mutual economic growth and sustainable environmental protection. He said carbon trading opens up new green economy jobs, especially in carbon measurement, verification, project management and …
DAR ES SALAAM: PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed local authorities to partner with the Vice-President’s Office to empower youths in carbon trading and adopt modern waste recycling technologies for mutual economic growth and sustainable environmental protection.
He said carbon trading opens up new green economy jobs, especially in carbon measurement, verification, project management and sustainable land use and that involving youth will help to build a generation actively contributing to climate solutions.
The Premier was speaking during Youth Green Summit 2025, which was held on Tuesday at the University of Dar es Salaam, ahead of World Environment Day commemorations tomorrow in Dodoma.
Mr Majaliwa stated that in May, this year, Tanzania and Japan signed a partnership agreement for a joint investment programme in carbon trading, which is expected to expand the carbon market in the country.
He said the government has already established a National Carbon Monitoring Centre through the revised Environmental Management Act of 2025.
“This is another step by the government to partner with environmental stakeholders,” he said.
PM Majaliwa noted the platform on environment has brought young people from various parts of the country and that it has managed to build capacity on environmental preservation and participation in various strategies for protecting and addressing challenges related to environment.
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He underlined the importance of strengthening public awareness efforts around the environmental clean-up campaign, encouraging citizens and communities to actively participate.
Premier Majaliwa also urged the private sector to establish waste recycling systems for industrial byproducts to ensure that manufactured goods do not end up harming the environment.
“As we approach World Environment Day on June 5, 2025, it is crucial for young people to recognise their role in the environmental agenda through this platform. This Youth and Environment Forum should serve as a catalyst for innovation, raise awareness and engage the nation’s workforce in protecting and preserving our environment,” he said.
He said the government has continued to implement various measures, including promoting the use of clean cooking energy, with over 762 institutions having already adopted alternative energy sources.
“The goal is to have 80 per cent of Tanzanians using clean energy by 2034,” said the Premier.
Mr Majaliwa revealed that more than 266 million trees were planted in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
“However, the nation continues to face the challenge of forest loss, estimated at 469,420 hectares per year. The government has placed a strong emphasis on youth involvement in environmental initiatives,” he said.
Moreover, the Premier said sanitation and waste management have remained among the key environmental challenges that require deliberate and urgent action.
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He explained that statistics show that approximately 14.4 to 20.4 million tonnes of solid waste are generated annually, especially in major cities and municipalities. However, only about 50 per cent of this waste is properly collected and disposed of.
Mr Majaliwa called youths to apply science and technology in managing waste saying the challenges have been turned into opportunities that can create employment for youths, boost the economy and increase individual incomes.
“I therefore urge all young people to actively engage in environmental conservation and management, recognising it as a powerful opportunity for generating income and creating sustainable employment,” he added.
Earlier, the PM directed all Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to ensure they establish waste processing and separation centres to handle waste safely and sustainably at the point of generation, with the goal of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills or scattered in residential areas.
On his part, the Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Union and Environment), Hamza Khamis, said the government through the VP’s Office has made significant efforts in environmental conservation by requiring each council to plant no fewer than 1.5 million trees annually.
He said: “We used to say waste is dirt, but now we say waste is wealth, and it’s a solution for youths in the environmental sector.” This year’s World Environment Day will be commemorated globally in South Korea, under the theme; ‘Beat Plastic Pollution to Protect Biodiversity, Water, Climate, Soil and Infrastructure.’