Namibia: Weighing the cost of climate change

AS one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Namibia will be hit hard by the effects of climate change, says Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore.

“The effect of climate change will drastically increase the vulnerability of people within southern Africa and Namibia, which is already compounded by the threats of desertification,” Konjore told the 12th conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in the Kenyan capital Nairobi earlier this month. He said because Namibia was one of the most arid countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it attached great significance to the convention.The arid environment, recurrent droughts and desertification have made Namibia one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.Konjore said this vulnerability was because of Namibia’s fragile ecosystem and a subsistence economy that relied heavily on subsistence farming.He said Namibia wanted to address the threat of climate change by pursuing a path of sustainable development suited to its environment.The country has already launched its Second National Communication project to address the potential impact of climate change on the most vulnerable sectors.The country has also initiated an adaptation project to help farmers in drought-prone north-central Namibia adapt to climate change.”The outcomes will include adaptation measures by rural communities in agricultural production and integration of climate change through the Country Pilot Partnership (CCP) for integrated Sustainable Land Management,” said Konjore.This programme is aimed at reducing and reversing the process of land degradation in Namibia, he said.Namibia also has in place a green energy policy, the National Renewable Energy Policy, and has secured funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address the issue of climate change.The UN convention, also known as the Kyoto Protocol, is a global environmental agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that causes climate change.A two-page paper presented at the same meeting by the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) said anticipated climate-change impacts on Namibia included droughts, seawater inundation of ports and reduced food security.As a result of global warming, sea levels along the Namibian coast are expected to rise between 30 and 100 centimetres by the year 2100, resulting in the warming of the cold Benguela Current.Namibia acceded to the convention in 1995 and a Climate Change Committee was established in 2001.He said because Namibia was one of the most arid countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it attached great significance to the convention.The arid environment, recurrent droughts and desertification have made Namibia one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.Konjore said this vulnerability was because of Namibia’s fragile ecosystem and a subsistence economy that relied heavily on subsistence farming.He said Namibia wanted to address the threat of climate change by pursuing a path of sustainable development suited to its environment.The country has already launched its Second National Communication project to address the potential impact of climate change on the most vulnerable sectors.The country has also initiated an adaptation project to help farmers in drought-prone north-central Namibia adapt to climate change.”The outcomes will include adaptation measures by rural communities in agricultural production and integration of climate change through the Country Pilot Partnership (CCP) for integrated Sustainable Land Management,” said Konjore.This programme is aimed at reducing and reversing the process of land degradation in Namibia, he said.Namibia also has in place a green energy policy, the National Renewable Energy Policy, and has secured funds from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to address the issue of climate change.The UN convention, also known as the Kyoto Protocol, is a global environmental agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that causes climate change.A two-page paper presented at the same meeting by the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) said anticipated climate-change impacts on Namibia included droughts, seawater inundation of ports and reduced food security.As a result of global warming, sea levels along the Namibian coast are expected to rise between 30 and 100 centimetres by the year 2100, resulting in the warming of the cold Benguela Current.Namibia acceded to the convention in 1995 and a Climate Change Committee was established in 2001.