10 Jul 2013

The Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Dr Gloria Somolekae has told Parliament that although there is a link between climate change and poverty, there are no specific assessments on the contribution of climate change to poverty in Botswana that have been made.

Responding to a question from Gaborone South MP, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi, Dr Somolekae said every four years, vulnerability assessments were carried out on key economic sectors such as agriculture, rangelands, water and health regarding how they were likely to be affected by impacts of climate change.

She explained that most Batswana reled on these sectors for their livelihoods and therefore it was logical that any negative impact on these key sectors such as a drop in crop yield or high livestock mortality due to reduced rainfall could push Batswana into poverty.

Dr Somolekae said adaptation plans to assist the affected communities had been implemented such as the distribution of seeds instituted by the Ministry of Agriculture in accordance with agro-ecological zones as a way of adapting to climatic conditions. The ministry, she said, had also started piloting small scale conservation agriculture.

The other adaptation plan, she explained, included the  development of a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan for Botswana which was in progress at the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and would have as one of its strategic areas, a National Adaptation Plan.

“This strategic area will identify priority adaptation actions that reduce vulnerability and build resilience as well as identify programmes to address poverty in the context of a changing climate,” she said.

Mr Molatlhegi had asked the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration whether he was aware of the link between climate change and poverty and if any assessment had been made on the contribution of climate change towards poverty in Botswana; and what adaptation plans had been implemented to assist the affected communities. ENDS