President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has urged the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to revise adaptation financing for effective implementation of adaptation actions, arguing that the project-based approach will not yield the intended results.
Speaking at the ongoing COP-27 conference in Egypt during the climate implementation summit, Masisi said that due to its long-term nature, Adaptation financing should be embedded into the national treasury as it requires
established institutions and systems which are not project based.
"We need to rethink our adaptation finance strategy. We need to consider enjoining the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund to create an adaptation window that can accommodate integrated innovative approaches to financing adaptation actions as opposed to project based financing," Dr. Masisi said.
He said that coming from the opposite Southern Slopes of Africa of similar climate induced limitations, summer temperatures can climb up to 40°Celcius on a given day.
"The new normal of unpredictable patterns of rainfall is compounding unreliability of rain-fed Agriculture," he said, adding that this calls upon all nations not to avoid the science and warnings on climate change but rethink implementation.
Dr. Masisi noted that the recent 2022 National Adaptation Plans (NAP) Expo hosted in Gaborone, proved that the need to implement adaptation actions is increasingly becoming more urgent, not only for Botswana but also for the rest of the vulnerable countries around the world.
He added that with additional support to their research institutions, they can provide the world with some of the cutting-edge adaptation solutions especially on Agriculture and Health.
"Botswana has in place the Climate Change Policy and its associated Strategy and Action Plan. Adaptation measures within the agricultural sector, includes the development of drought resistant crop varieties and livestock breeds more tolerable to the harsh climatic conditions," Dr Masisi said.
On mitigation, the Government of Botswana has made a decision to increase renewable energy penetration from two percent to 30 percent by 2030. This will double the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets.
These efforts are in line with the Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Strategy. Additional resources are pivotal to the full implementation of the country's integrated resource plan on an accelerated basis.
Masisi acknowledged that drought is also another permanent feature in Botswana which continues to deplete the little resources the country has for socio-economic development.
"This has prompted the government to develop a Drought Management Strategy to assist in resilience building to mitigate loss and damage, as well as mobilise resources," he said, emphasising that this will however not be enough without innovative adaptation funding systems.
Lead Negotiator, COP27 Presidency and Director of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Department, Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr also added that countries should not ignore the fact that climate crisis is devastating livelihoods.
"The world faces many challenges right now, not least food and energy crises. But the climate crisis cannot be ignored, it continues to devastate the lives and livelihoods of the poorest people and without swift and substantial action, things will only get worse.
“Covid-19, and this year's geopolitical challenges have seen nations coming together to provide support for those in need. COP27 offers a chance to do the same for the victims on the frontline of the climate emergency,” Nasr said.
(This article has been published with support from MESHA/IDRC grant for coverage of COP-27 by African Science Journalists)
Speaking at the ongoing COP-27 conference in Egypt during the climate implementation summit, Masisi said that due to its long-term nature, Adaptation financing should be embedded into the national treasury as it requires
established institutions and systems which are not project based.
"We need to rethink our adaptation finance strategy. We need to consider enjoining the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund to create an adaptation window that can accommodate integrated innovative approaches to financing adaptation actions as opposed to project based financing," Dr. Masisi said.
He said that coming from the opposite Southern Slopes of Africa of similar climate induced limitations, summer temperatures can climb up to 40°Celcius on a given day.
"The new normal of unpredictable patterns of rainfall is compounding unreliability of rain-fed Agriculture," he said, adding that this calls upon all nations not to avoid the science and warnings on climate change but rethink implementation.
Dr. Masisi noted that the recent 2022 National Adaptation Plans (NAP) Expo hosted in Gaborone, proved that the need to implement adaptation actions is increasingly becoming more urgent, not only for Botswana but also for the rest of the vulnerable countries around the world.
He added that with additional support to their research institutions, they can provide the world with some of the cutting-edge adaptation solutions especially on Agriculture and Health.
"Botswana has in place the Climate Change Policy and its associated Strategy and Action Plan. Adaptation measures within the agricultural sector, includes the development of drought resistant crop varieties and livestock breeds more tolerable to the harsh climatic conditions," Dr Masisi said.
On mitigation, the Government of Botswana has made a decision to increase renewable energy penetration from two percent to 30 percent by 2030. This will double the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets.
These efforts are in line with the Energy Policy and Renewable Energy Strategy. Additional resources are pivotal to the full implementation of the country's integrated resource plan on an accelerated basis.
Masisi acknowledged that drought is also another permanent feature in Botswana which continues to deplete the little resources the country has for socio-economic development.
"This has prompted the government to develop a Drought Management Strategy to assist in resilience building to mitigate loss and damage, as well as mobilise resources," he said, emphasising that this will however not be enough without innovative adaptation funding systems.
Lead Negotiator, COP27 Presidency and Director of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Department, Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed Nasr also added that countries should not ignore the fact that climate crisis is devastating livelihoods.
"The world faces many challenges right now, not least food and energy crises. But the climate crisis cannot be ignored, it continues to devastate the lives and livelihoods of the poorest people and without swift and substantial action, things will only get worse.
“Covid-19, and this year's geopolitical challenges have seen nations coming together to provide support for those in need. COP27 offers a chance to do the same for the victims on the frontline of the climate emergency,” Nasr said.
(This article has been published with support from MESHA/IDRC grant for coverage of COP-27 by African Science Journalists)
