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The question to GLOBAL DRIVING FORCES remains whether full integration of
the environment with development; and full integration among nations has or
is being achieved.
Honourably stated by the Minister that developing countries are the net
recipients of environmental stresses; skewed trade and finance relations
between the north and the south; and subsequently threatening the ability
of the south or developing countries to develop. These accrues to the
existing rhetoric on sustainable development.
Are nations IN FACT interdependent? Is this interdependence measurable? How
is this globally enforced to obtain a degree of accountability?
Not sure whether this rhetoric is worth pondering upon? |
Does Climate Change Bother Namibians?
New Era - Monday, 9th of June 2008
By Irene !Hoaes
WINDHOEK
A national debate on Climate Change and Global Warming was held on Friday in the capital.
The main question that was deliberated upon was: what is really causing global warming, is it human activities or a natural phenomenon?
The dominant view among those present squarely placed the blame on the shoulders of human beings and their activities and their impact on the
environment.
Nevertheless, there were other views that differed from the dominant view, noting that there is no evidence that whatever is happening is caused by human activity.
The occasion that was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism Leon Jooste, was poorly attended. This leaves the question: are Namibians serious about the effects of global warming and climate change? And do people actually understand what the phenomenon means to the country.
What was supposed to be an important platform for stakeholders was attended by a few students and speakers who presented papers on the issue.
The meeting was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namdeb, the Namibia Equity Brokers (Pty) Ltd and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Namibia is one of the countries that will be severely affected by global warming and climate change as a result of its aridity.
The country is characterized by high climate variability, evident from persistent droughts, unpredictable and variable rainfall patterns, variability in temperatures and scarcity of water.
Namibia also experiences high solar radiation, low humidity and high temperatures.
Given the above, Jooste said Namibia is highly vulnerable to climate change and possesses limited capacity for adaptation.
Moreover, the country is considered a minor producer of greenhouse gases. Jooste said there is need for Namibia and other developing countries to utilise appropriate technologies to help in the adaptation process, which will help these countries to adapt to the threats posed by climate change.
“We therefore call for greater mobilisation, especially on a global scale, and action by our development partners to create an enabling environment to improve the effectiveness of the transfer of environmentally sound technology, including access to modern energy technology,” Jooste said.
UNDP Resident Representative Simon Nhongo, one of the presenters at the debate, said the occasion is proof that the Namibian Government and its partners want to bring clarity on the greatest global challenge facing the world today.
Nhongo said global warming and climate change entail scientific processes that have generated a vibrant debate worldwide.
He said the fact that Namibia is having its own debate on this issue will expand the audience and numbers of protagonists on global warming and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Nhongo said the impact of human activities on climate has been evident, while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has evaluated evidence that shows that changes in climate have already affected a variety of physical and biological systems and concluded that these effects can be attributed to global warming.
Nhongo said that nations in Africa, particularly the SADC region, will suffer far more than the developing world if no action is taken against the ever-increasing variability in the climatic system.
“Already, Africa faces various and intricate developmental challenges, including but not limited to for example, endemic poverty, complex and unresolved governance issues, institutional rigidities, limited access to developmental capital and multiple disease burdens such as malaria and HIV/AIDS,” Nhongo added.
He said the evidence of the effect of global warming and climate change is already evident from the recent floods in the north-central regions of the country.
Namibia dedicated the whole of last week, which marked world environment day, to the environment by carrying out several activities in honour of World Environment Day. |
Local Economy Can’t Escape Climate Change
Monday, 9th of June 2008
By Irene !Hoaes
WINDHOEK
UNAM economists say whether or not people believe in climate change or climate variability, the phenomenon definitely has an impact on the country’s economy.
Dr Omu Kakujaha during his presentation on the national debate on climate change and global warming last week said climate change and climate variability put great stress on all economic sectors, especially the primary sector on which Namibian economics is so much dependent.
These are the agriculture and fishing sectors.
He said that these environmental changes definitely compromise the country’s national development goals and Vision 2030.
Kakuhaja said the sector mostly affected by these changes is agriculture, on which about 70 percent of Namibians are dependent for their livelihood.
The economist said there are wide fluctuations in the primary sectors such as the agricultural sector, which is dependent on rain.
He said that during 2002, the primary sector grew to 12 percent and then dropped below one percent during the following year when there was no rain or little rain, an indication of how these sectors are affected by climatic conditions.
“Late rains are seriously impacting on planting, thus climatic change definitely has an impact on the economic sectors,” Kakuhaja noted. Kakuhaja noted that such conditions cause severe hardships, retrenchments and also impacts on the GDP growth of the country.
The economist suggests that water conservation methods be put in place, while indigenous livestock breeding be promoted.
Other methods of adaptation during these times, Kakuhaja said, include crop variation, introducing new varieties and fast maturing crops, as well as increased market access and skills diversification.
He added that improved forecasting and market information are also vital in responding to these new challenges as well as an improved emergency response.
“REMU and EMU, are they ready to respond to imminent crises? I am not sure of that,” the academic added.
Kakuhaja said climate change is definitely an additional stressor and thus readiness is important to buffer against the phenomenon. |
Its unfortunate that developing countries are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, I believe that our ability to adapt to climate change will depend on our access to information and relevant resources which is what most of the marginalised communities lack.
With access to the right information at the right time we can be able to implement our own adaptive strategies rather than wait for external donor funding or relief aid. Why then dont we start sharing information on the different adaptation strategies that are employed in other parts of the world on DLIST.
Important information on the traditional water conservation methods in agriculture, indigenous livestock breeding,seed exchanges etc will be useful in helping people adapt to changing climatic conditions. Through DLIST and its community radio programmes we can be able to relay whatever information is gathered to people in those places who lack access to the internet, so that they can implement the different strategies. |
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