The disappearing generation and climate change : evidence from Zimbabwe

Abstract

The passing on of key elderly members of communities is presenting new challenges on the well-being of the natural environment as their disappearance signifies the end of Indigenous Knowledge that had protected the ecological environment. Using 60 in-depth interviews situated in 2 rural settlements in the Shamva District of Zimbabwe, complemented by documents on climate change literature, the article demonstrates that the dying of elderly community members is contributing to climate change. With unprecedented levels of migration globally in the absence of Indigenous Knowledge transfer, the continued survival of this important body of knowledge is seriously threatened and this is also greatly contributing to climate change. An end to the free-market economy has been proposed as a solution to address the global problem of climate change. However, the inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge into the education curriculum, including its digitalisation, may go a long way in climate change adaptation and mitigation.