Climate change threats real for Botswana

 

Botswana has been challenged to embrace adaptation to climate change, given its environmental social and economic circumstances.

Speaking at the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting for authors, Professor Thelma Krug Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) vice-chairperson told over 100 international scientists gathered in Gaborone this week that Botswana is prone to climate change due to its fragile environments and semi-aridity.

“Botswana is highly vulnerable to climate change particularly agriculture or livestock, woodlands and forest, water and health,” said Professor Krug at the 4th Lead Author session of the IPCC. She said climate change is likely to add to existing stresses for Botswana causing significant changes in prevalent vegetation and rangeland cover, affecting species types, composition and distribution, as well as those depending on them. “Adaptation to climate change in Botswana is vital given the environmental, social and economic circumstances,” said Professor Krug.

In the Southern Africa region, Botswana is one of the countries affected by loss of livestock under prolonged drought conditions given its extensive rangeland, making it difficult to provide adequate provision of water for livestock production.

Slumber Tsogwane, Botswana’s vice president said the nation needs to effectively respond to the negative effects of climate change. “Botswana is located in a region where the rate of warming exceeds that of the global average.

“The vulnerability of the country to the adverse effects of climate change needs to be better understood, as well as its implications on environmental and socio-economic sectors such as health, water, tourism, infrastructure, agriculture and overall development,” said Tsogwane.