Angola Hosts First-Ever National Climate Outlook Forum to Strengthen Climate Resilience Amid Drought Crisis
Angola held its first National Climate Outlook Forum (NCOF) from October 28-30, 2024, in Luanda aimed at combatting the escalating effects of climate change.
Hosted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Climate Services Centre and Angola’s National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INAMET), the event is a milestone in Angola’s efforts to strengthen its capacity to generate and use climate services, enhancing national resilience to climate impacts.
The forum, themed “In the Frontline of Climate Action to Deliver Services in Angola,” represents Angola’s commitment to tackling climate challenges through collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and climate information providers.
Representatives from agriculture, water resources, energy, health, and disaster risk management sectors attended, underscoring the cross-sectoral approach necessary to address the climate crisis. International organizations specializing in climate resilience and service-building also took part, highlighting the collaborative effort required to tackle far-reaching climate impacts.
Ms. Surekha Ramessur, Senior Programme Officer for Meteorology at the SADC Climate Services Centre, spoke on the devastating drought conditions worsened by the ongoing El Niño event.
Drought emergencies have been declared in six SADC countries, including Angola, which has been experiencing critical food insecurity levels, affecting 1.8 million people. Hydropower challenges due to low water levels have intensified load-shedding issues across Southern Africa, a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate adaptation.
The NCOF aims to equip INAMET experts and stakeholders with essential climate service skills, establishing National User Interface Platforms (NUIPs) specifically tailored to priority areas like agriculture and water. The forum will also release a seasonal climate outlook for Angola, created in collaboration with sectoral experts to develop customized climate products that will aid in drought mitigation and adaptation planning.
This forecast will serve as a critical tool for decision-making in agriculture, energy, and disaster risk reduction, supporting Angola’s efforts to prepare for and adapt to climate challenges.
Significantly, the NCOF will focus on refining the SARCOF-29 regional forecast to produce national and sub-seasonal climate outlooks for Angola, spanning October 2024 to March 2025.
By involving stakeholders from agriculture, water, and disaster management sectors, the forum aims to ensure the relevance and practicality of climate data. This initiative complements Angola’s broader climate adaptation strategies, setting a framework for addressing climate variability and preparing for future climate threats.
Source: SADC
