The Good and Bad of Climate Change

Jana-Mari Smith

16 June 2011

The National policy on climate change for Namibia was tabled in parliament this week, bringing the country closer to an official policy to guard and ward off the worst climate change has in store.

The policy comes at a critical time, as Namibia’s environment has been check-listed as one of the most vulnerable to climate change and its impacts. Minister of Environment and Tourism, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, writes in a booklet submitted to parliament, that the impacts on Namibia’s “climate sensitive sectors” could be “catastrophic”.

The majority of Namibians rely on agriculture, livestock management and fishing for an income, and scientists have said that climate change impacts will range from increases in temperature and evaporation as well as unpredictable rainfall, causing flooding or draughts.

On the positive side of the coin however, climate change also offers “opportunities”, Nandi-Ndaitwah pointed out. She noted that the global drive to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations is increasing the importance of alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind and other renewable energy resources, which Namibia is particularly “well-endowed” with.

Addressing the opportunities and mitigating the negative effects are part of the policy on climate change.

“The policy lays out a number of principles that ought to guide the process, while also outlining the roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the policy,” the Minister writes.

She added that while climate change has the potential to side-rail development processes in Namibia, the key is to prepare sufficiently and effectively.

“We can use the threats and opportunities of climate change to lay the basis for a sustainable and prosperous Namibia”.

AllAfrica – All the Time