The ongoing COP27 is being held in Sham El-Sheikh from the 7th to 18th of November in Egypt and our President H.E Munangangwa is attending the meeting. The aim of COP27 is to shift the focus from negotiations and planning to action on the ground were it is most needed.
Africa is proved to have produced less than ten percent of Global Greenhouse gas emissions but it is the most vulnerable regions to climate change thus according to the statement of COP27. The UNCOP27 looked at the key sectorial challenges and opportunities related to climate change. The sectors are many, they include land based ecosystems and carbon sinks, energy and infrastructure, and water systems which the story will dwell much on. The story will zoom water systems. The fact that Africa’s population is projected to double by the year 2050 and the cry of water shortage around the whole continent makes Africa accounts for two-third of extreme poor continents and this is going to be largely of effect as a result of climate change. And the water access and Governance foreshadow a crisis in 2050. The increased drying of the continent will result in food shortages, conflicts over increasingly scarce resources and increasing dependence on natural resources. Another challenge noted was that Africa’s investment in water is low hence she plays a role to inadequate capacity to minimize climate risks and enhance climate resilient water systems.
The whole bag of challenges may sound like these challenges are only a matter to the chairman and committee members of the board of climate change meeting however the challenge is to us all and to the future generations so we must have visions that will benefit the future generations. We must invest in sustainable goals and leaving no-one and no place behind like what the President always say.
However they have noted opportunities, the adoption of water efficient technologies, such as drip-irrigation or small-scale water harvesting which can both help to adapt to the impending impacts of climate change but also create significant private sector business opportunities across the continent. Also there is an opportunity for the development of bankable solutions for adaptation, particularly through ecosystem-based approaches and ecosystem-based adaptation that benefit the most vulnerable populations and ecosystems across Africa.
In closing it was noted that “While adaptation and resilience-building remain Africa’s top priority, mitigation actions will Also be required as part of the region’s climate response.”
Written By
Ratidzai Mutanga