Natural resource based economies in Africa to be hit hard economically by climate change with the poorest paying the highest relative price.
Source: The Namibian (Windhoek) ... "Climate Outlook Grim - Study" by Absalom Shigwedha
Source: The Namibian (Windhoek) ... "Climate Outlook Grim - Study" by Absalom Shigwedha
The impact of climate change on Namibia's natural resources alone could reduce the country's Gross Domestic Product by one to six per cent, says an opinion paper by four climate change experts.
The paper, 'Counting the cost of climate change in Namibia', was compiled by Hannah Reid of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), James MacGregor (IIED), Linda Sahlen of Umea University and Jesper Stage of Goteborg University It was launched at the conference of parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) currently on in Bali, Indonesia.
"Its [Namibia's] natural legacy underpins much of the national bank balance - and also leaves it highly vulnerable to climate change," said the two-page paper. It is estimated that up to 30 per cent of Namibia's GDP is reliant on the environment. The paper said there was a need for Namibia to mainstream climate change into national policies and planning. Employment opportunities, it says, could shrink and wages fall, with wages for unskilled labour dropping by 24 per cent in worst-case scenario. "So, along with climate change policies and activities, Namibia needs a strategy to deal with displaced farmers and farmworkers," said the paper. Low rainfall is particularly expected in the central regions, while overall rainfall is projected to become even more variable that it is now.
"Even if rainfall changes little from today's levels, hotter temperatures will boost evaporation rates, leading to severe water shortages. Poor rural pastoralists and dryland populations will be affected most. Extreme events such as drought are likely to become more frequent and more intense," said the four experts.
They said it was up to industrialised nations - the most responsible for climate change - to help Namibia and other vulnerable countries to cope with the impact.
The paper, 'Counting the cost of climate change in Namibia', was compiled by Hannah Reid of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), James MacGregor (IIED), Linda Sahlen of Umea University and Jesper Stage of Goteborg University It was launched at the conference of parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) currently on in Bali, Indonesia.
"Its [Namibia's] natural legacy underpins much of the national bank balance - and also leaves it highly vulnerable to climate change," said the two-page paper. It is estimated that up to 30 per cent of Namibia's GDP is reliant on the environment. The paper said there was a need for Namibia to mainstream climate change into national policies and planning. Employment opportunities, it says, could shrink and wages fall, with wages for unskilled labour dropping by 24 per cent in worst-case scenario. "So, along with climate change policies and activities, Namibia needs a strategy to deal with displaced farmers and farmworkers," said the paper. Low rainfall is particularly expected in the central regions, while overall rainfall is projected to become even more variable that it is now.
"Even if rainfall changes little from today's levels, hotter temperatures will boost evaporation rates, leading to severe water shortages. Poor rural pastoralists and dryland populations will be affected most. Extreme events such as drought are likely to become more frequent and more intense," said the four experts.
They said it was up to industrialised nations - the most responsible for climate change - to help Namibia and other vulnerable countries to cope with the impact.
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