27 Oct 2016

Batswana have been called upon to adapt to the impacts of climate change and the need to prepare and find new ways in which to respond to climate linked threats.

Speaking during a press brief in Gaborone, UN special envoy for El Niño and climate, Ambassador Macharia Kamau said the 2015/2016 El Niño was a window into climate future that could be less predictable and more extreme.

Ambassador Kamau stated that the expectation was that future weather events such as El Niño and La Niña would be more frequent and severe than ever before.

He said there was a “new normal” that had to be implemented, saying the new normal demanded a different way of doing things, both in actions to reduce and reverse the effects of climate change, but also in the ways that the country is prepared, its responses to climate-linked threats.

He said climate events should not just be about humanitarian response, adding that the focus should also be on risk-informed development that prioritises prevention, mitigation and preparedness.

Mr Kamau pointed out that being prepared provides exponential returns in terms of human dignity, safety and wellbeing as well as countries overall economic and social development.

He further stated that being ready would help people to adapt to the new normal way and at the same time reduce the threats facing vulnerable communities.

Ambassador Kamau stated that the shifts in climate are having the greatest impact on those countries least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions must imbue everyone with a special sense of urgency and responsibility.

Ambassador Kamau said disasters like drought take a massive human toll and roll back years of development gains.

He said the changes to climate are driving more extreme weathers, saying in this new normal weather patterns there is recurring drought, floods, storms and other environmental threats that could routinely overlap and compound each other and by that pushing communities into an inescapable cycle shock and partial recovery.

He mentioned that the new normal demands a different way of doing things both inaction to reduce and adapt to the impacts of climate change, but also in the ways to prepare for, and to respond to the climate linked threats.

Mr Kamau pointed out that nations are now struggling with the effects of prolonged drought linked to El Niño adding that the drought more than halved agricultural production, forcing prices for locally –grown food up by around 40 per cent in one of the world poorest countries.

He pointed said nations have a moral duty to ensure that the children and vulnerable communities are not devastated by the effects of climate change, saying if they do not succeed, the ripples would be felt for by the next generation.

He further mentioned that failing to find new ways the already vulnerable communities would become trapped in a never ending cycle of environment shocks and partial recovery.

“There is no time to waste” alluding to the fact that it is likely that the next climate linked humanitarian disaster would be upon the universe before communities have recovered from El Niño.

Ambassador Kamau called for resilience building and that preparedness efforts should be adequate.

He said that includes careful planning and investment to be made at every level, from the local community to national government.

He mentioned among the others, a routine plan and preparedness for a range of climate related risks including preparedness of the political leadership. ENDS