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Innocent Ruwende in Victoria Falls
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Africa’s participation in the global fight against climate change will help the continent enhance socio-economic development. Officially opening the 5th Climate Change and Development Annual Conference here on Wednesday, VP Mnangagwa said fighting poverty and achieving sustainable development remained the continent’s thrust and focus.
He said for Africa, climate change had massive implications on development. “The continent contributes the least greenhouse gasses, but stands to lose the most because of its vulnerability and limited adaptation capacity,” he said. “Consequently, it is the continent that has the greatest interest in a climate governance framework that is functional and capable of controlling emissions while at the same time providing for adaptation to already occurring changes in the climate system.
“In this context, the transition to a post-Kyoto climate governance framework is an opportune moment to engage the African continent and the world in such a review.” VP Mnangagwa said the upcoming Conference of Parties 21 to be held in Paris in December 2015 was expected to deliver the new climate agreement, which would define global climate governance in the post Kyoto period.
COP21 represented a unique chance for Africa to assert itself in global climate governance and influence the outcomes of Paris towards aligning with the continent’s long term sustainable development agenda.
“Accepting that Africa is discovering resources such as coal, gas and oil, we are guided by the continent’s Vision 2063 on development,” said VP Mnangagwa. “Zimbabwe and our Zambian counterparts are grappling with power challenges, which have been triggered by reduced rainfall and run-off into our major dam, Kariba.”
This, he said, aptly demonstrated that the effect of climate change on weather patterns called for a paradigm shift from a business as usual way of doing things. Climate change adaptation remained the continent’s priority. Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri said climate change had largely impeded economic development.
“As we speak, the increasing global temperatures, frequency of floods and droughts, rainfall variability and cyclones are associated with undesirable climate change impacts,” she said. “We, therefore, all now have to face up to these consequences and turn the challenge into developmental launch-pad since Africa has a mixture of both developing, least developed, and small island states whose economies are generally weak.” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said Zimbabwe viewed climate change as a serious issue.
The conference is being attended by Zambia Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Vincent Mwale and his Gambian counterpart Mr Alieu Jammeh, among other high ranking officials from the continent.
Online Reporter