Govt says Zambia still vulnerable to effects of climate change

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 06:04:00 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

ZAMBIA is still vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Permanent
Secretary (PS) Trevor Kaunda has said

Mr Kaunda said that was so because Zambia was still experiencing a number of related hazards such as droughts,, seasonal and flash floods and extreme temperatures.

He noted that hazards associated with climate change had increased in frequency and intensity over the last two decades and had adversely impacted on agriculture and food security, forestry, wildlife, health, tourism, energy and livelihoods of communities.

Mr Kaunda said this in Lusaka when he officiated at a
one-day stakeholder’s validation workshop organized by the Zambia
Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

He said this in a speech ready for him by Environmental Expert, Ephraim Shitima.

“Climate change still remains a challenge and has continued to
affect Zambia. This can be seen in so many ways,” Mr Kaunda said.

He said government was raising and creating awareness to the
people on the comprehensive national policy on climate change that was adopted and approved by Cabinet in 2016.

Mr Kaunda further disclosed that a study that was conducted by his ministry staff in 2010 on economic impacts of climate change revealed that Zambia would lose an estimated US$5 billion over a period of 10 to 20 years if nothing was done on climate change.

And ZEMA director general John Msimuko in a speech read for him by natural resources and climate change manager, Annel Phiri said that it was important that participants immensely contribute to Zambia’s first Biennial Update Report (BUR) to United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The ZEMA DG said the Report to be submitted to the United
Nations Environment Programme would enable Zambia to access funds on climate change as she prepares the Report to the UNFCCC
popularly known as the Paris Agreement or Accord de Paris.