Lusaka Mayor Urges Stronger Partnerships at National Adaptation Planning Expo
Her Worship, the Mayor of Lusaka, Ms Chilando Chitangala, has called for strengthened partnerships to accelerate climate adaptation efforts, speaking at the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Expo hosted by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.
The event was officiated by the Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Hon Mike Mposha, MP, who highlighted the urgent challenges posed by climate change. He noted that the period from 2015 to 2024 has been the warmest on record, with the 2023–2024 drought described as the worst in four decades.
The drought has cut hydroelectric power generation by more than 50%, devastated crops and livestock, intensified flash floods and wildfires, and threatened both food security and public health.
Hon Mposha outlined a range of government measures to address the crisis, including the Green Economy and Climate Change Act, the National Adaptation Plan, the National Green Growth Strategy, enhanced climate policy frameworks, and the installation of over 200 automated weather stations to improve climate services and resilience.
In her remarks, Ms Chitangala — who serves as Chairperson of REXCOM for ICLEI Africa, representing 450 cities in 50 countries, and Vice Chairperson of the Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa (CoMSSA), representing over 370 cities, stressed that the Expo was “more than just a conference.”
She described it as a crucial platform for uniting global and local leaders to build resilience and protect communities from climate risks.
Acknowledging Lusaka’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, variable rainfall, and urban pressures on infrastructure and natural resources, the Mayor reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to expanding green spaces, improving waste management, promoting renewable energy, and developing infrastructure that can withstand climate shocks.
She urged governments, the private sector, communities, and international partners to forge stronger collaborations to ensure climate adaptation plans are translated into effective, people-centred, and nature-based solutions.
The Expo convenes government institutions, UN agencies, civil society, academia, the private sector, and local authorities to share expertise, mobilise climate finance, and align national strategies with local needs, with the aim of ensuring no one is left behind in the urgent fight against climate change.
