09 Aug 2017

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism is in collaboration with the Italian government, the Food and Agricultural Organisation and the Ministry of Agriculture Development and Food Security to assist local communities to implement climate smart agricultural practices and other programes.

Mr Tshekedi Khama said his ministry was aware that climate change tends to affect the poor as their adaptive capacity was low hence the need for an awareness programme on climate change.

Mr Khama said the ministry had carried projects in the northern parts of Botswana to sensitise people on climate smart agriculture and different forms of renewable energy.

He further said the awareness programme entailed issues of adaptation technology, information sharing on opportunities and other relevant topics.

Minister Khama also said the climate change strategy which had been developed would infuse both traditional and modern knowledge systems and other policies into the national adaptation plan.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone South, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi had wanted to know what measures and strategies were in place to reach out to the poor in rural areas and sensitise them on climate change, and he further wanted the minister to state progress to date.

Mr Molatlhegi also asked the minister if he was aware that the ability of human systems to adapt to and cope with climate change depended on factors such as technology education, information, skills, infrastructure, access to resources and management capabilities.

He also wanted to know if Botswana had ever considered coming up with local coping strategies and traditional knowledge systems to complement local and government interventions and policies. ENDS