17 Oct 2013

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges to humanity as it threatens sustainability of livelihoods, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama has said.

Speaking at the fifth special session of the African Ministerial conference on the Environment (AMCEN), President Khama said climate change continued to undermine development efforts.

He said the planet’s natural environment was under serious threat as the impact of climate change was being felt around the world through experience of the never ending calamities experienced around the globe.

“Rainforests are shrinking, shores of lakes are receding, desserts are encroaching on normal fertile land, sea levels are rising, and climatic seasons are shifting all over the planet,” he said.

Scientific evidence, he said, showed that natural resources were being depleted at an increasing rate, adding that natural capital was diminishing both in quality and quantity.

“Change is taking place for the worst and if not adequately and expeditiously addressed, it will continue to threaten the planet as we know it,” said President Khama.

Under these circumstances, President Khama said, “it is very important to embrace sustainable development as a way of life. We urgently need to pay attention to getting the balance right between what is economically feasible, socially desirable and environmentally sustainable”.

He highlighted that Botswana shared the same aspirations and belief that environmental conservation was necessary for sustainable development and crucial for poverty reduction.

The President said natural resources were the basis on which communities and nations derived their livelihood adding that Botswana had taken measures aimed at conserving its natural resources.

Unless the flora and fauna with its potential value was not protected, President Khama said their value would only be realised by poachers and illegal exporters who provided markets for destructive and selfish activities.

Conference participants were encouraged to plan to be heard as a coherent, united voice at the Warsaw climate change meeting in November. This, he said, would demonstrate that Africans were equal partners with the rest of the world in working to address climate change and in protecting the environment.

For his part, Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said such conferences existed to set a framework on how to manage the sustainable use of the rich environmental resources.

Minister Khama said through government and the civil society, Botswana was committed to protecting these resources and called on fellow ministers to commit to preserving Africa’s natural resources.

Botswana wanted to be associated with the international commitments that relate to sustainability and thus agreed to host AMCEN, he said.

The minister explained that the meeting aimed at having Africa’s position on climate change negotiations was also expected to make decisions, among others on the post Rio +20 flagship programmes for Africa.  ENDS