Climate change policy due soon

Maranyane Ngwanaamotho | Wednesday April 9, 2014 16:38

 

Speaking during a meeting of environmental scientists yesterday in Gaborone, the minister said implementation of the policy is likely to begin in 2015, depending on how long legislators take to debate it.

Scientists from the University of Cape Town were presenting the latest data about how climate change affects people and the environment to the minister and his team. The platform was also used to engage policy makers on how the government and civil society can work together to increase both awareness and the formulation of policies.

The meeting, a culmination of a four-day training event, heard that government had appointed a technical reference group to oversee the formulation of a national climate change strategy and action plan.

University of Cape Town researcher, Joseph Daron, told Mmegi afterwards that it has been observed that temperatures are gradually increasing across the globe, due to people’s lifestyles.

He warned that Botswana was already vulnerable, especially concerning rainfall, adding that challenges associated with climate change would become more aggressive going forward.

Daron advised that governments should consider putting in place early warning systems.

“We do not have to catch up with situations. We should consider preparing for situations and act before we are in trouble,” he said.

Further, he stressed that it was crucial for governments to strategically plan for a sustainable future and regard adaptation as an opportunity and not a problem.