— Govt welcomes efforts in combating climate change

Govt welcomes efforts in combating climate change

 

Livingstone, February 25, 2014 ZANIS———–  Government says it welcomes efforts aimed at combating global climate change.

 

And  Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Resident Representative George Okech commended government for the leadership role it had taken in addressing issues of climate change.

 

 

 

Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Harry Kalaba says government had taken deliberate steps to fight climate change by promoting the implementation of both adaptation and mitigating measures.

 

 

“While adaptation has been recognized as a priority for developing countries like Zambia that are experiencing the adverse effects of climate change, government has taken deliberate steps to also promote the implementation of mitigation measures in order to contribute to a climate resilient, low emission development pathway that is sustainable in the long run,” he said.

 

Mr. Kalaba said this today in a speech read for him by Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Musanje during the opening of the Regional African Workshop on REDD+ National Forest Monitoring Systems and Green House Gas (GHG) National Inventory Systems at Chrisma hotel.

 

He said National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and Green House Gas Inventories would assist Zambia and other countries meet their obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

 

“In a nutshell, data collection is critical to support policy-makers to make informed and rational decisions that are evidence-based. Without informed decisions, we cannot identify and prioritize actions that reduce GHG emissions and move countries onto a low-carbon, climate resilient development pathway,” he said.

 

Mr. Kalaba further said some of the initiatives government was undertaking to mitigate global climate change included establishment of the inter-ministerial climate change secretariat, the promotion of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects under the Kyoto Protocol; and the development of a Climate Change Policy to provide guidance among other initiatives.

 

He also stressed the importance of coordinating national programs to avoid duplications, reduce transaction costs and aligning programs to national visions.

 

Earlier, Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Resident Representative George Okech commended government for the leadership role it had taken in addressing issues of climate change.

 

Mr. Okech who was also representing the United Nations Development Plan (UNDP), said some impacts of climate change would be mostly felt in Africa.

 

“Whilst we have to contend with this challenge, we can make our forests play a crucial role in finding lasting responses and solutions to climate change. Forests have some of the highest potential role in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

 

He said REDD+ offered an opportunity for African countries to bring transformational and systematic change in the way they managed and protected their forests.