| Editorial Climate change is one of the most important and complex challenges facing
the Zambezi River Basin, much as in the rest of the world. Projected changes
in the earth's climate present more than just an environmental concern but
also serious social and economic implications.
While the riparian states of the Zambezi River Basin bear little responsibility
for the build-up of carbon dioxide and other global warming gases in
the earth's atmosphere, they stand to bear the brunt of the environmental,
social and economic consequences of a warming climate.
Southern Africa – in which the Zambezi Basin wholly lies – has been
identified as one of the regions around the world most susceptible to the
impacts of climate change.
Global warming could seriously impair ability of the riparian states to
reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the set of eight internationally
agreed goals for improving social and economic indicators by 2015.
Impacts such as flooding, drought and desertification could lead to loss
of agricultural land, degradation of water sources and destruction of social
and economic infrastructure.
Climate change and variability continue to pose a threat to the delicate
balance in food security through erratic rainfall patterns and decreasing
crop yields.
Furthermore, adverse climate change impacts on natural systems and
resources, infrastructure and labour productivity may lead to reduced
economic growth, exacerbating poverty.
Awarmer climate is also predicted to promote the spread of livestock and
human diseases. Approaches used to address climate change will have
profound implications for human development in the basin.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns in its Fourth
Assessment Report that, “With current climate change mitigation policies
and related sustainable development practices, global greenhouse gas
emissions will continue to grow over the next few decades.”
Climate change requires a long-term global response, in line with the
latest scientific findings, and compatible with economic and social development.
In defining mitigation and adaptation measures, the riparian states have
a window of opportunity to ensure that the impacts of climate change in the
basin do not ultimately prove to be as destructive as is predicted.
However, this window of opportunity is relatively brief and emphasis
should be on appropriate and early action.
There is a need for the Zambezi Basin riparian states to implement an
integrated and balanced response to climate change by adopting technologies
that would not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also add to
long-established efforts towards sustainable development.
Reversing deforestation, adopting more efficient and cleaner energy
producing technologies and expanding the use of bio-fuels in the transport
sector would bring about benefits, not only in terms of reducing climate
change risks, but also in terms of reducing other environmental problems.
Such measures would also address economic goals, including reduced
dependence on imported petroleum products and creating employment.
Increased use of small-scale rainwater harvesting technologies would
help to improve crop productivity and lead to improvements in water management
and poverty reduction as well as reduced vulnerability to climate
change in all sectors.
The success of past and current sustainable development initiatives in the
Basin bodes well for riparian countries as they rise to meet the climate
challenge as most, if not all, such interventions support attempts to stem the
unrelenting impact of climate change.
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