Climate change wreaks havoc on LLDCs

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 09:49:46 +0000

By SANDRA MACHIMA

ZAMBIA has observed that Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) have continued to suffer the devastating impacts of climate change effects such as El Nino, desertification and land degradation which are as a result of the unhealthy oceans.

Christine Kalamwina, the Zambian charge d’Affaires and deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said fragile economies of LLDCs have continued to bear the negative impact of climate change, thereby hampering their prospects of development and food security.

Delivering a speech at the United Nations Oceans Conference on behalf of the Group of Landlocked Countries on Wednesday, Ms Kalamwina said it had been recognised globally that there were huge climatic threats faced by oceans and their resources.

She explained that while the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea gave right to access oceans as well as the right to exploit its resources, the rights were not fully realized.

Ms Kalamwina said UNCLOS gave landlocked states the right to access the oceans as well as participate on an equitable basis in the exploitation of the surplus of the living resources.

“The group of Landlocked Developing Countries recognizes that the oceans are a common heritage to all and to the fact that maintaining sustainability and health of the oceans is of great importance to all countries.

“We recognise the huge threats faced by the oceans and its resources as the devastating impact of unhealthy oceans. LLDCs are experiencing the devastating impact of climate change which is as a result of unhealthy oceans and these include El Nino, desertification and land degradation,” Ms Kalamwina said.

She stated that there was need to enhance the participation of the LLDCs in the ocean-based activities and the blue economies as well as in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal number 14.

 “In a world of growing complexity and rapid advancement, certain fundamental, ethical and moral principles need to be taken on board to ensure equal and fair use of these resources,” she said.

The United Nations oceans conference was convened by the governments of Fiji and Sweden in order to work towards reversing the decline in the health of oceans for people, for the planet and for prosperity.

The conference also hopes to build momentum towards the implementation of SDG 14 and towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.