Zambia has been experiencing adverse impacts of climate change including an increase in frequency and severity of seasonal droughts, occasional dry spells, increased temperatures in valleys, flash floods and changes in the growing season. The effects of climate change and variability on food. Climate zambia climates to travel world climate guide. The project was initiated in 1996 in parallel with the unepgef project economics of greenhouse gas limitations. But while its strong, theres something more powerful.
Integrate adaptation to climate change into the work of key nongovernmental institutions and mainstream the napa process with these institutions. Across the globe climate change has caused serious damage to the environment and to human life in general. With a majority of zambians depending on agriculture, even a slight change in temperature can affect crops like maize with. The challenges of climate change children on the front line. Undps climate change activities in zambia undp has been supporting the government of zambia in preparing the response to the challenges that the country is facing as a result of effects of climate change. In response to these impacts, zambia is working to develop sustainable and appropriate programmes. The effects of climate change are likely to felt most in the following areas. Aez 1, which stretches along the southern border, has the least rainfall. Thus, agricultural production and food security is likely to be severely compromised by climate change thereby putting some regions of marginal agriculture out of production. Climate variability is already affecting zambia, and projected climate change impacts.
Additionally, the paper outlines the impact of climate on human health, agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. The shift is taking place because climate changerelated droughts and floods have had significant effects on the country, and because international aid is increasingly directed toward climate change policies. Within these regions, since the late 1980s, there has been a tendency for the later onset and earlier withdrawal of rains, as well as more frequent droughts. Development of the institutional framework for climate change 11 4. In reading this chapter, it needs to be borne in mind. The global climate is the connected system of sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas, and everything people do, too. Climate change adaptation in zambia fact sheet global. On the 3rd of march 2017, zambia launched its longawaited national climate change policy aimed at stemming the impact of climate change and subsequent reduction of the countrys annual economic growth due to crop failure and the impact of climate change on energy production.
Climate change is set to increase food insecurity in agroecological zones aezs i and ii in zambia. Climate change according to nasa, the earth average temperature has increased about 1 degree fahrenheit during the 20th century global climate change. The national climate change policy is an important policy development that introduces a wellstructured and. The marked seasonal pattern of precipitation is caused by the north and south movement of the intertropical convergence zone itcz, which shifts with the sun. Zambia national adaptation programme of action on climate change 2007 2. Climate change mitigation in southern africa zambia country study. Using the cases of malawi, tanzania and zambia, this paper. Climate change communication officer matthews kalabo said climate change is one of the major challenges which is being faced not only by zambia but also the world at large. Botswana environmental and climate change analysis 29 may, 2008 this environmental and climate change analysis was carried out as a brief desk study in april 2008.
The impact of climate variability and change on economic. Zimbabwe has not been spared of these drastic changes in the rainfall pattern. To assess respondents awareness of global warming in zambia, they were asked to indicate their. Clearing forests for construction and increased industrializing will have negative consequences on zambia s environment and atmosphere.
Causes of climate change united states environmental. The climate of a place, say new york, can be described as its rainfall, changing temperatures during the year and. Climate change and variability have resulted in a shift in the rainfall patterns in many parts of the world. Zambia national climate change policy climate investment. The organization has also been helping to build capacities and institutions required to effectively combat climate change at the national. It is therefore important that botswana develops capacity to lessen the extent of vulnerability of the. Country background zambia is a landlocked country in south central africa between latitudes 8 degrees and 18 degrees south, and longitudes 22 degrees and 33 degrees east.
The latest jctr 2001 monthly food basket survey shows that it is becoming more and more. This study, therefore, seeks to draw the attention of the international community, policy makers and development agencies to the severe impact that climate change, desertification and land degradation has on the economies of lldcs. Deforestation is an important factor in global climate change. According to nasa and ipcc, global temperature has increased by 1. Apr, 2016 to many in zambia, the current power crisis has focused attention on climate change in a way that changes over years and decades, like rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns, had not.
The shift is taking place because climate change related droughts and floods have had significant effects on the country, and because international aid is increasingly directed toward climate change policies. Zambia social science journal volume 5 number 1volume 5, number 1 april 2014 article 6 climate change in the zambian mind. Climate change ipcc projections for subsaharan africa 1 suggest increased water stress, decreased yields from rainfed agriculture, increased food insecurity and. The threats of climate impacts to sustainable development are critical and these have to be addressed if zambia is to move towards. Zambias national policy on climate change 2016 recognizes that deforestation rates are high, estimated at between 250,000 and 300,000 hectares per annum, and lists the principal causes as charcoal and firewood consumption. To be effective, climate change adaptation needs to be mainstreamed across multiple sectors and greater policy coherence is essential. Climate change mitigation in southern africa zambia country. The climate change agenda has risen substantially in global and national importance and the topic has thus been given a dedicated chapter in this 2.
Country, regional, and climate studies have been integrated into a comprehensive picture of zambias current and nearfuture climate. Fostering sustainable development and reducing peoples vulnerability from the risk of climate change, natural and manmade disasters and environmental degradation are key pillars under the framework of undp zambias country programme action plan 2011 2015 and the sixth national development plan vision for the natural resources sector. The impact of climate change, desertification and land. Introduction sustainable development can reduce vulnerability to climate change, and climate change could inpedent nations abilities achieve sustainable development. Although zambia lies within the tropics, its climate is modified by the altitude of the country and is generally favourable to human settlement and comfort.
Background paper on climate change issues, zambia food and. However, the question of what drives tropical deforestation at both local and global levels. It is thus, of paramount importance that measures are taken to mitigate the consequences of climate. It gives guidance on how the zambian economy can grow in a sustainable. Southern african countries zimbabwe, zambia, mozambique and malawi have shown and could increase under the effect of climate change mozambique. Abstract this article discusses the limits of the anthropogenic global warming theory advocated by the intergov. Numerous studies have shown that tropical deforestation is one of the major causes of global climate change henry et al. Climate variability and change, general equilibrium, agriculture, poverty, zambia.
Is climate change responsible for the recent rapid. As a policy measure to reduce reliance on fuelwood which is a major cause of deforestation, the chapter proposes tax and subsidy policy instruments to. In zambia, the climate is tropical or subtropical depending on altitude, with a hot, humid, and rainy season from midnovember to march and a dry season from april. It is thus, of paramount importance that measures are. These death tolls and rapidly rising infection rates have emerged at a time when zambia is experiencing severe impacts of climate change, as the country faces persistent drought, heatwaves and. Iapri seeks to hire an outstanding individual preferably a zambian national, with strong commitment and potential to bring a significant contribution to the activities of the institute in the field of environment, climate change and natural resource. Climate change is the longterm change in global weather patterns, associated especially with increases in temperature, precipitation, and storm activity benson, 2008. Adaptation to the effects of drought and climate change in zambia. Status of climate change in zambia zambia daily mail. Both humanmade and natural factors contribute to climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges humanity is facing, and is predicted to become the biggest single driver of biodiversity loss over the next 50100 years, larger than loss of habitat, overexploitation, and introduction of invasive species. Climate change hits hard in zambia, an african success story. An overview of zambias economic and poverty situation introduction poverty is the most profound challenge that zambia faces today. In zambia, any change in climate can spell disaster.
Climate change refers to significant, longterm changes in the global climate. Pdf global warming and climate change, causes, impacts and. In january the itcz is in its southernmost position. Moreover, the effects of climate change and variability compound each other, with the number of poor people rising to 74,000 if climate change is coupled with zambias worst 10year historical rainfall pattern. The climate change agenda in zambia national interests and. Nino southern oscillation enso, which causes further inter. Climate change is slowly being introduced into zambian development policies, such as urban planning and national development strategies. Zambia, a country located in southern africa, is almost entirely covered by a plateau, which tempers the climate, making the temperature generally acceptable for most of the year. Climate change adaptation in zambia fact sheet january 2012 climate variability is already affecting zambia, and projected climate change impacts include rises in temperature, shifts in precipitation, and possible increases in the frequency and intensity of weather events. Recorded effects of past floods on agriculture include inundation of. Climate change is taking a toll on zambia in many ways. Climatechange science will continue to help society make.
Jan 05, 2010 undps climate change activities in zambia undp has been supporting the government of zambia in preparing the response to the challenges that the country is facing as a result of effects of climate change. An overview of zambias economic and poverty situation. The adverse effects of climate conditions are already felt. Changes in climate may exacerbate preexisting socioeconomic development challenges, with. Background paper on climate change issues, zambia may 2011 1 1. It is a social crisis with the majority of people denied a minimum decent living standard. Climate change is a direct consequence of the continued increase in the atmospheric co2 mainly resulting from the anthropogenic emissions from fossil fuel. Climate change is a term that refers to major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer. The climate change agenda in zambia national interests and the.
Climate change and its causes a discussion about some key issues nicola scafetta 1. Zambia must reduce the deforestation rate to ensure a green economy and sustianbale development. Centre for environmental economics and policy in africa, policy note no. According to the zambia environmental management agency, global climate change is defined as a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods. An overview of zambia s economic and poverty situation introduction poverty is the most profound challenge that zambia faces today. To many in zambia, the current power crisis has focused attention on climate change in a way that changes over years and decades, like rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns, had not. It is therefore important that botswana develops capacity to lessen the extent of vulnerability of the countrys economy from climate variability and change. Recent climate trends in zambia average annual temperature has increased by 1. Communicating risk perception of climate change and variability in zambia. It is well known that deforestation is a big problem in the world today, with hundreds and even thousands of vulnerable forest being cut down both for tinder and to make way for arable farmland for cows and other livestock. This report on a climate change mitigation study of zambia is one of a set of three country studies carried out under the danida project climate change mitigation in southern africa. Climate variability is already affecting zambia, and projected climate change impacts include rises in temperature, shifts in precipitation, and possible.
1503 1302 795 240 1138 874 810 1148 293 252 1225 1402 714 609 481 1413 626 218 627 1368 367 143 773 175 752 1080 134 93 1113 860 636 455 602 1330 1071 1289 1375 1173 585 19 556 206 300 159 637