Africa getting ready for COP-28
African countries have been urged to consider the most critical issues, including the work programme on the just transition pathway which is of major interest for the continent ahead of the COP-28, to be held in Dubai.
Among these, Project Officer at Botswana Climate Change Network, Duduzile Masuku says that African countries should consider the global stocktake, operationalisation of the loss and damage fund as critical issues.
Masuku is one of the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) participants visiting the US on a professional exchange programme focused on the climate change crisis.
She works with women at grassroots level in the greening enterprises project, to improve their lives through access to green skills.
Her observation is that there is lack of knowledge and skills when it comes to climate change issues, and women are mostly affected by climate change as compared to their male counterparts.
This is mainly because women are custodians of family unions within communities.
“They are engaged in activities ranging from growing crops, fetching firewood all which are affected by climate change,” she said, noting that this negatively impacts them economically and socially, especially young girls.
“Women and girls should be engaged in platforms which can help elevate their capacity and capability offering knowledge and skills to mitigate these impacts of climate change through income generating projects geared at improving their welfare.
“Due to their vulnerability, they are taken advantage of, becoming victims of rape, gender based violence and other social ills,” she said.
Nonetheless, she applauded Botswana for the efforts of combating climate change, saying the country is doing fine.
“Botswana is generally doing fine in terms of showing commitment to climate change issues. Botswana has drafted a climate change policy which was adopted by Parliament and through our NDC we have a target time to reduce emissions by 15 percent.
“The country has also strengthened climate change resources mobilization through mechanisms such as the 2021 Green Climate Fund among others,” she said.
She acknowledges the IVLP opportunity adding that she learned a lot on climate change issues.
“While in Salt Lake we were told how the great Salt Lake is drastically drying up and one solution that they thought could solve the problem was getting water from the ocean.
“They have also found ways to turn their waste into gold to ensure that they keep their surroundings tidy, while also protecting their environment and benefiting from the waste products,” Masuku said.