Zimbabwe has taken a bold step towards climate action and financial innovation with the official launch of the Zimbabwe Carbon Registry (ZCR), a pioneering, blockchain-powered platform that promises to bring transparency, traceability, and accountability to the country’s carbon credit market.

On 23 May 2025, during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Transfrontier Conservation Areas Summit in Harare, President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially unveiled the ZCR. This momentous occasion marks the world’s first national carbon registry built entirely on blockchain technology, positioning Zimbabwe as a leader in climate finance on the African continent.

The ZCR is designed to support the country’s alignment with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, facilitating carbon credit tracking and ensuring benefits reach local communities. By integrating advanced technologies such as geospatial tools and artificial intelligence, the registry enables real-time monitoring, verification, and emissions reporting ushering in a new era of credibility and efficiency in climate action.

As part of this transformative moment, Cicada Carbon made history by becoming the first organization to issue carbon credits through the ZCR. Their flagship initiative, “Clean Cooking Zimbabwe,” is already delivering real impact by deploying over 100,000 clean cookstoves to rural communities out of a planned 160,000. These energy-efficient rocket stoves drastically reduce deforestation and improve household air quality, saving up to one hectare of woodland per stove over its lifetime.

In a landmark achievement for carbon finance interoperability, Cicada also completed the first transfer of 10,000 credits from the internationally recognized Gold Standard registry to Zimbabwe’s domestic platform. This sets a precedent for future cross-platform credit validation and opens doors to global climate investment.

Present at the launch were Cicada Carbon executives including CEO and Zimbabwe Carbon Association Chairperson Nicholas de Swardt, Commercial Director Karen Jiri, and Chief of Staff & Sustainability Jenna van Niekerk, all of whom reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to high-integrity, community-anchored climate solutions.

The launch of the ZCR is more than just a technical achievement, it signals Zimbabwe’s readiness to scale sustainable innovation and mobilize climate finance at a continental level. Projections suggest that the country could unlock up to US$20 billion in carbon finance over the next three years if the platform is leveraged effectively.

This is not only a victory for Zimbabwe’s climate ambitions but also a model for how technology, policy, and purpose can converge to drive inclusive, measurable impact in the global fight against climate change.