Zambia devises steps to address climate change impact

Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Harry Kalaba has observed that climate change was a serious environmental concern which Zambia and other countries on the globe are faced with.

Mr. Kalaba was however happy that government and its cooperating partners were addressing the matter with urgency through practical steps.

He said one of the steps was technology needs assessment which government has embarked on.

Technology needs assessment is a country driven activity aimed at helping to identify and analyse the priority technology needs for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The minister said this in Lusaka today during the official launch of a report on climate change technology needs assessment.

He said the technology needs assessment would form a basis of facilitating and providing an opportunity to realise the need for new techniques, equipment, knowledge and skills for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and reducing vulnerability to climate change.

Mr. Kalaba urged the stakeholders involved in technology needs assessment to make it successful.

And acting Permanent Secretary for Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Peggy Chirwa disclosed that the United Nations Environmental Programme facilitated US$120,000 towards the technology needs assessment.

Ms. Chirwa said her ministry would remain committed to engaging stakeholders fight climate change through continued sensitsation in communities to protect trees and nature.

Meanwhile, Principal Natural Resources Management Officer Richard Lungu disclosed that Zambia was among 45 other countries that were in the second phase of receiving funds from the global environment facility.

Mr. Lungu said 36 countries were participating in the technology needs assessment project in the first phase.

He said a national technology action plan (TAP) would soon be developed to recommend an enabling framework for the diffusion of the prioritized technologies.

The official launch of technology needs assessment was attended by Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) board chairman Dauti Yamba and environmental experts from quasi and government institutions.