Parliament adopts Climate Change Policy

The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed the Botswana Climate Change Policy presented by the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng.

Members of Parliament from across the political aisle displayed bipartisan unity in their support for the adoption of the draft policy, which the minister said had been developed after extensive stakeholder consultation.

During her presentation, Ms Kereng said the policy would commit government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to adopt mitigation efforts to facilitate the building of sustainable and resilient interventions in combating climate change.

“The draft policy is characterised by an inclusive approach to social, economic, development and governance modalities that would enable the country to achieve a sustainable development pathway,” Ms Kereng said.

She added that the policy provided opportunities for improved livelihoods through the creation of green jobs, development and transfer of relevant technologies as well as creation and ease of access to markets at national and international levels.

Ms Kereng said the policy would map a general approach for the country’s response to climate change and enable the productive sectors of the economy to be adequately equipped to respond.

As MPs debated the draft policy, Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said it was consistent with the sustainable development aspirations of the Revised National Development Plan (NDP 11) and Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (ERTP) that were approved by Parliament last year.

Mr Tsogwane said the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also had aspirations for nations of the world mitigate against climate change, and Botswana was moving in the right direction towards meeting international obligations through the policy.

Assistant Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, Ms Beauty Manake said the policy was necessary to synchronise the various interventions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

She said the adoption of organic farming and the use of methods that mitigate against climate change in the agricultural sector was important to conserve the environment to ensure sustainable use of farmland and pastures.

For his part, Mahalapye West MP, Mr David Tshere said he was happy that Botswana was committed to combating climate change, a step he said was not always popular among states which he said at times placed economic consideration over environmental concerns.

But he cautioned that the country needed to work out domestic solutions relevant to the local conditions, and be a part of regional Southern African and continental African approach to environmental conservation instead of blindly adopting global or Western policies that may not be suited to local conditions.

Mr Tshere said extensive sand mining in places like the Mahalapye River were of concern and contributed to environmental degradation.

While also voicing his support for climate change initiatives, Francistown South legislator Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said Botswana should insist on the right to utilise its extensive coal reserves, as the country was still a developing nation, and could utilise environment friendly energy sources alongside coal.

The policy addresses the approach to climate change in different areas, including procurement, waste management, land use and allocation, biodiversity and ecosystems, agriculture and food security, carbon as well as transport emissions among others.

A total of 45 MPs present voted in favour of the adoption of the policy, with none against or abstaining.

Source: Daily News http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=61746