06 Nov 2022

Botswana will use its participation at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this week to advance the cleaner global environment course.

This was said by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Lemogang Kwape during commemoration of UN Day in Gaborone on Thursday.

Dr Kwape said although Botswana and other African states were among the world’s lowest contributors to global carbon emissions, they bore the brunt of the negative effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall patterns which impacted food security and sustainable development.

For that reason, Botswana would continue to not only come up with environmentally friendly policies but also use global forums such as COP27 to agitate for international solutions to climate change, he said.

Dr Kwape said Botswana’s national values were similar to the United Nations Charter principles while the pillars of its Vision 2036 were aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The country was therefore a proud participant in the community of nations forums, said the minister.

UN resident coordinator, Mr Zia Choudhary praised Botswana’s contribution to multilateral diplomatic relations and labelled  the country  a “net exporter of the peace dividend” for its peace and security promotion efforts in Southern Africa and the world at large.

Mr Choudhary also said Botswana’s presidency of the UN’s Economic and Social Council had been commendable.

The ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Gladys Mokhawa said Botswana had ratified global conventions on mitigating climate change such as the Kyoto Protocol.

She pointed out that environmental degradation was a force multiplier having an impact on various areas such as water security, food production, gender and youth development, unemployment and poverty.

For her part, Ms Patto Kelisitse, a Sustain267 climate change advocate, urged government and the UN to view the youth not just as a demographic to be serviced but rather as partners in decision-making.

Government should harvest young Batswana’s knowledge who in forging policies and funding mechanisms that could best address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and climate change.

Noting that African states contributed just three per cent of global carbon emissions, Ms Kelisitse said Botswana should be given the leeway to explore its large coal reserves in a clean manner.

 Closure of coal mining would have an unintended consequence of job losses and loss of potential revenue necessary for development, she warned.

 UNESCO national programme officer, Mr Martin Mosima said UN Day offered an opportunity to affirm the principles of the organisation’s charter.

The day commemorated the global body’s formation on October 24, 1945, he said.

In his recent UN Day message, secretary general Mr António Guterres urged the global community to recommit to peace, ending extreme poverty and inequality, realising sustainable development, women and girls empowerement and environmental protection by adopting renewable energy and reducing the use of fossil fuels. Ends