Advocacy and Legislation on

Climate Change in Africa: Case of

Malawi

by William Chadza, CEPA Malawi,

May 2010

Some Facts on Malawi

• 85% of the population depends on agriculture;

• 40% of Malawi’s GDP comes from agricultural sector;

• Agricultural system depends on rainfall; and

• Subsidization of farm inputs and good rainfall have led to food security.

Environmental Concerns• Deforestation• Land degradation• Water pollution from agricultural

run off• Siltation of large breeding areas of

aquatic resources

Climate change has affected the agricultural and fisheries industries, surface and groundwater resources, wildlife conservation efforts, health, forestry and energy resources

Action• In mid 2000’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) adopted, and

counter the effects of climate change. At that time the plan was costed at US $22.4 million.

• The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) introduced under the Kyoto Protocol saw measures – including a carbon sequestration programme, with farmers encouraged to plant trees, and undertake ecosystem management

• The government started to promote the use of alternative sources of energy like fuel efficient stoves, solar photovoltaic panels, and other non pollutant technologies.

• A commitment was also made to address deforestation, - 30% of the countries forestry has been lost in the past decade, and protect the vulnerable catchment around the Shire River, curbing unsustainable land use practices.

• At a Summit in New York just over two years ago the Minister with responsibility for the area stated that efforts to implement the above programmes had been largly hampered by limited financial resources and lack of appropriate technologies.

About CEPA• Goal: to facilitate policy formulation

and implementation for sustainable ENRM;

• Programme Focus:

- Climate change policy and practice;

- Land and agrarian policy reform;

- Biodiversity; and

- ENRM policy advocacy.

• Strategies:

- Policy research, analysis and monitoring; and

- Advocacy and policy lobbying.

Climate Change Experiences

• Increased frequency, intensity and magnitude of droughts and floods;

• Changes in rainfall patterns – early cessation of rains - unpredictable rain – shift of planting dates;

• Positive mean temperature anomalies; and

• Policy debates to global warming have been ignoring insights of poor people.

Need for Adaptation to Climate Change

• Developing countries (Malawi) have very small industrial base as such emissions are small;

• Low economic capacity to cope with climate change; and

• Focus on minimizing adverse effects of climate change.

Financing Adaptation to Climate Change

• Developing countries are highly vulnerable to climate change yet they have low capacity to adapt;

• Policy dilemma – developed countries tend to focus on mitigation while developing countries are concerned with adaptation;

• “Polluter Pays” and “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” principles;

Financing Adaptation to Climate Change (cont’d)

• Loan-financing of climate programmes leading to more debt and conditionalities;

• Funding for climate change should be additional and not counted as part of development assistance;

• Local communities are engaged in the process of adaptation to climate change but cannot meet the challenges single-handedly;

Financing Adaptation to Climate Change (cont’d)

• Dilemma between long term financing which climate change adaptation requires and the current project-based adaptation initiatives.

Key Policy Issues regarding Climate Change

• Resources affected by climate change are governed by sectoral laws and policies;

• Policy response to climate change adaptation is slow, scanty and uncoordinated though in urgent need;

• Lack of policy sympathy and policy failure;

• National budgetary allocations are based on approved policies;

Key Policy Issues regarding Climate Change (cont’d)

• Harmonize sectoral policies in order to facilitate inter-sectoral coordination;

• National programmes on climate change need to be guided by evidence-based specific policy tools;

• Climate change adaptation measures need to find their way into national budgetary framework; and

Key Policy Issues regarding Climate Change (cont’d)

• Provide clear direction for integrating climate change impacts into the overall development framework.

Thank You