We need to adapt to climate change

Mmegi Editor | Wednesday May 21, 2014 10:36

Findings have shown that Africa is the most affected and may face serious food and water shortages in the near future. Even in Botswana, we can testify that climate change has affected us.  The current drought that started two years ago has resulted in a shortage of water and should clearly be a wake-up call.

The challenge in Africa is how to use natural resources without adversely affecting the climate. The continent is blessed with natural resources such as minerals, wildlife, and most importantly coal, which we should utilise to produce electricity. Our coal deposit is so huge, we are told, that we can supply the world for the next 50 years or so. On the other hand, some of the developed countries argue that we should adopt new technologies to produce electricity and save the environment for the future generation.

It is a valid argument, but the main challenge is that these technologies are so expensive that getting them will keep us poor for decades.  It is therefore justified that Africa should take advantage of its natural resources and utilise them for survival in this merciless world of survival of the fittest. 

With lack of resources to build high-tech power stations, Africans have no choice but to go for coal-powered stations to produce electricity and build its economies.

Speakers at a recent meeting addressed by the parliamentary standing committee on climate change called for serious policy discussions on the use of water, and food security.  Indeed water is a scarce natural resource that can cause cross-border conflict that can later escalate into full-blown wars.

With so many countries sharing rivers, there is need to regularly discuss these issues at high level meetings, which we think is what SADC is doing during conferences and summits.

What the SADC Secretariat should do is improve its communication with the public in member states.

The public should be updated regularly on issues surrounding water and food security, especially when there is uncertainty on whether there will be enough rainfall in the next rainy season.

                                                            Today’s thought

“You never really know what’s coming. A small wave, or maybe a big one. All you can really do is hope that when it comes, you can surf over it, instead of drown in its monstrosity.”

                                                           -  Alysha Speer