By Happy Mulolani
Zambia’s low adaptability to climate change is burdened with the prevalent floods and droughts which continue to negatively impact communities.
The Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative indicates that Zambia is ranked 55th which clearly depicts the country’s vulnerability especially its critical sectors which include; Agriculture, Health and Energy sectors, as the worst affected by the effects of climate change.
This situation presents an opportunity to improve the capacity on climate change adaptation and also a basis for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) through the Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) to contribute towards the review of the country’s adaptation plans on climate change.
The essence of civil society organisations is to create a platform to ensure communities’ views are represented and also galvanise their voices pertinent to climate change.
Zambia Climate Change Network Acting National Coordinator Lydia Chibambo explains that the Zambia’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) currently under validation, has been developed as a medium and long-term adaptation strategy and guide initiatives which speaks to climatic risks up to 2030.
Ms Chibambo says the document highlights the screening of the real impacts of climate change, risks and institutional governance.
“There is need to look at institutions that exist to support frameworks and also include aspects of technicalities, finances, gender, inclusiveness and economic development,” she says.
The document also takes cognisance of building capacity and resilience meant to curb loss and damage.
To cope with climate shocks, there is need to ensure government departments and other stakeholders engage in rescuing people from floods, in some instances, support victims of drought in the country.
This narrative can only be achieved by adhering to various committments such as the Paris Agreement coupled with national policies and plans such as the National Adaptation Plan currently under-review.
In a one day validation meeting for CSOs in Lusaka with Swedish support, Facilitator of the meeting, who is also Pelum Zambia Programme Officer Wilfred Mega points out some of the key recommendations as; policy inconsistency, climate financing and establish where these funds are directed.
Resolving these bottlenecks requires appropriate mechanisms to ensure budget tracking, reflective of the inflow of funds and specific targeted activities.
While, Green Living Movement Country Coordinator Emmanuel Mutamba proposes a participatory robust monitoring and evaluation of the communities.
“We need to be careful to avoid an elitist approach to monitoring and evaluation of some of the agreed actions,” Mr Mutamba cautioned.
An integrated monitoring and evaluation approach needs to take into account various sectors’ planned activities aimed at tackling climate change.
ActionAid Zambia Climate Change Officer Rebecca Mwambazi says there is a need to have a more robust awareness and sensitisation as well as policies that support investing in energy and ensure cost reflective.
“We also need to transition from one form of energy, in particular transitioning to clean energy, which is accessible for all,” Ms Mwambazi says.
She argues that most infrastructure is not climate-sensitive and early warning systems are not effective.
“The policy on infrastructure development into climate-smart and adaptability to floods needs to be prioritised given the ever-increasing climatic shocks in communities, and also strengthen the early warning systems to avert climate hazards,” Ms Mwambazi emphasizes.
To be compliant, there is need to create more awareness and sensitisation to communities to ensure there are no compromises on policies and plans, as doing so will avert climate vulnerability.
Climate Change Activist, who is also BCM Consult Lead, Boniface Mumba, asserts the need to build capacity in CSOs to fully grasp and understand the NAP process.
“We need to align NAP to internationally agreed processes that we are mandated such as the Paris Agreement. It’s also key to factor in documents such as the climate change communication strategy as well as other international protocols in order to be able to implement properly,” Mr Mumba says.
Some of the agreed recommendations hinged on ensuring Government adds incentives to solar energy and all renewable energy. It is clear the energy sector needs to break the monopoly which currently exists in the sector.
Further, the role and inclusion of youth in NAP is critical to ensure the continuity of the agreed climate actions.
Overall, there is a need to strengthen the enforcement of the Environment Protection Fund and promote indigenous tax policy and independent law to benefit all critical sectors of the country in the wake of climate change.
Although the national adaptation plan process began in 2014, the document was launched in 2017. However, reviewing the NAP process through a multi-sectoral participatory manner is inevitable, as it will strengthen the climate change coordination systems in Zambia.
As ZCCN continues on this trajectory, its active involvement to ensure the effective implementation of Climate Change Adaptation Programmes is key. To achieve this, there is a need for ZCCN to interface with government in order to influence policy and appropriate recommendations.