Mutharika warns on climate change
President Peter Mutharika has warned that if nothing is done to deal with causes of climate change Malawi faces a bleak future.
Speaking in an interview in New York ahead of the Climate Summit 2014, which took place yesterday, Mutharika said from studies that have been made, Malawi’s temperatures are projected to rise by 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 degrees Celsius in the years 2030, 2075 and 2100.
He added that rainfall figures are also projected to reduce significantly in some agro-ecological areas in the country.
“This is worrying because it will make life very difficult, especially when you consider that the most vulnerable are the poor, women and the less privileged,” said Mutharika.
He said government is already playing its part by actively engaging in the multilateral climate change processes and providing resources to increase resilience against the impact of climate change.
Among the interventions that government has undertaken, Mutharika cited finalisation of a National Climate Change Policy that will guide the design, formulation, coordination, implementation, financing and monitoring of climate actions.
He also mentioned the launch of a National Climate Change Investment Plan in April this year, which is a tool for mobilisation of climate finance.
In a related development, street protests demanding urgent action on climate change on Monday attracted hundreds of thousands of marchers in more than 2 000 locations worldwide.
The People’s Climate March is campaigning for curbs on carbon emissions.
Mutharika was among world leaders whom UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon invited to attend the summit.
