Climate Change Challenges Threaten Africa’s SDGs and Agenda 2063 – Hon. Mposha
Zambia’s Minister of Green Economy and Environment Hon. Mike Mposha has highlighted the urgent need for climate action in Africa following the release of the 2023 State of Climate in Africa report.
Speaking at the 12th Climate Change for Development in Africa Conference (CCDA XII) during a virtual meeting, Hon. Mposha emphasized the report’s critical insights for shaping effective climate policies.
The Minister, also the first Vice-President of the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET), noted that the report underscores the increasing severity of climate impacts on the continent.
“Africa’s high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and limited adaptive capacity make it uniquely vulnerable to climate change,” Hon. Mposha stated. “Rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and erratic rainfall are harming human health, ecosystems, and livelihoods, jeopardizing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.”
The report details how extreme weather events are exacerbating challenges in agricultural productivity, food security, and overall well-being.
Hon. Mposha called for increased investment in climate adaptation and resilience, particularly through loss and damage frameworks, as the continent prepares for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).
He also emphasized the pivotal role of AMCOMET’s integrated strategy on meteorology, which focuses on enhancing climate services, strengthening partnerships, and building capacity for climate adaptation and resilience.
“By implementing this strategy, Africa can improve early warning systems and better mitigate climate impacts,” Hon. Mposha affirmed.
Reaffirming his commitment, Hon. Mposha pledged to work with colleagues to ensure National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and Regional Climate Centers receive the necessary political support to combat the climate crisis effectively.
