6 June 2009
THE Government has called on developed countries to significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to the levels that will ensure the world enjoys a cleaner and greener environment.
Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala said in Lusaka yesterday that the effects of the emissions had resulted in increased climate change causing devastation to human living.
Ms Namugala, who was speaking during the commemoration of this year's 37 World Environment Day at new Kanyama Basic School, said developed countries needed to provide more support to poor countries like Zambia to help address the vice.
She said Zambia had not been spared from the adverse effects of climate change as the country was experiencing severe floods.
"Just here in Kanyama and particularly at this school, floods have had devastating effects on the state of the school and other surrounding infrastructure," Ms Namugala said
This year's theme is 'Your Planet Needs You, Unite to Combat Climate Change' which calls on everybody to join hands to address issues of the climate change.
Ms Namugala said the effects of climate change compounded by the low adaptive capacities had undermined sustainable development efforts in the Least Developed countries (LDCs).
"Climate change is considered as a major challenge to sustainable development especially in LDCs such as Zambia. This is because we have competing multiple challenges like poverty reduction and HIV/AIDS," Ms Namugala said.
She said planting fruit trees could help the school to generate supplementary income while providing the pupils with the desired nutritional requirements.
The minister said there was need for private sector to partner with the Government to promote environmental friendly technologies.
She said this could go a long way in reducing the dependence on charcoal while preserving the forests.
Speaking earlier, acting United Nations (UN) country resident coordinator Pablo Recalde said the UN would always provide support to LDCs like Zambia to help fight climate change.
At the same function, Standard Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu said her bank had embarked on a sensitisation campaign on energy efficiency as a way to address the climate change.
Kanyama Constituency area Member of Parliament Jerry Chanda commended the Government for its quick action to the school during the time the classrooms were flooded saying there was need to have more drainages.
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