Climate Change and Zambia?s National Adaptation Programme of Actionby Chabala Chisenga | 05-03-2017 18:03 |
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The Zambian economy is predominantly based on the exploitation of the country's natural resources. The adverse effects of climate conditions to which the country is exposed overtly affect these resources. Climate-induced changes to physical and biological systems are already being felt and exerting considerable stress on the country vulnerable sectors. Already, the country's sensitive sectors - agriculture and food security, wildlife, forestry, water and energy, and human health have been adversely affected by climate change, thereby significantly affecting the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of our national sustainable development. The primary concern of the Government is to protect its people, infrastructure, and other national assets against disasters and climatic hazards such as droughts and floods. It is in this regard that Government has put in place the National Disaster Management Policy and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit under the Office of the Vice President in order to respond to the disasters at the national level. Government is also committed in ensuring that the vulnerable communities who suffer the most are supported with safety-net initiatives which would enhance their adaptive capacity in reducing their vulnerabilities. As a party to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Zambia recognizes that it has limited resources to effectively respond to the threats posed by climate change. It has therefore taken appropriate steps by responding to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) initiatives, to which it's a party, and devised strategies against climate change through this National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and other programmes. There is significant recognition country wide of the importance of a national plan such as the NAPA that will steer the country forward in adapting and ameliorating problems related to climate change. This noble cause has received considerable attention in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) in which the Government has pledged to complement and support the NAPA. The NAPA will complement the efforts of the government through the following: (1) contributing to the security of the vulnerable Zambians (2) ensuring that the livelihoods of the most vulnerable households are secured against the adverse effects of climate change and their basic needs assured (3) vulnerable groups are protected from the worst impacts of risks and shocks as a result of climate change and (4) creating public awareness of the adverse effects of climate change. It is hoped that the formulation of NAPA will not be seen as an academic exercise but a serious step towards addressing the urgent and immediate needs of our country against the backdrop of climate change. On behalf of Government I would like to appeal to the international community, our cooperating partners, and other stakeholders to support the NAPA through the implementation of intervention projects identified in the document so that adaptation to climate change is enhanced. Zambia therefore takes pride in submitting this action plan to UNFCCC Secretariat and remains indebted to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for their support in finalizing this NAPA document. Posted by eco generation regional ambassador to Zambia,article by climate change Zambia. |
