Zambia needs data-driven approach to address climate vulnerabilities, says minister Mposha

Zambia must gather empirical data to understand its vulnerabilities and better prepare for the climate challenges the country is facing, authorities have emphasised.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Mike Mposha, highlighted that Zambia was highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as droughts and floods, which posed significant threats to national development.

Mposha made these remarks during a courtesy call by the World Bank Inception Mission on Zambia’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) at his office in Lusaka on Monday.

“This is posing a major threat to the sustainable development aspirations of our country, outlined in Vision 2030 and national development plans,” Mposha said.

He pointed to the devastating drought experienced this year, which had severely impacted water, food, and energy security, affecting millions of Zambians.

“This is evidenced by the devastating drought experienced by the country this year, which has affected water, food and energy security, and the livelihoods of millions of people,” Mposha stated.

He further noted that this was the worst drought Zambia had seen in decades, significantly undermining key sectors.

Mposha added that the severity of the situation had prompted President Hakainde Hichilema to declare the drought a national disaster and emergency.

“However, the government is doing everything possible, implementing immediate, medium, and long-term measures as a response to this challenge,” Mposha reassured.

World Bank Senior Economist, Dominick De Waal, acknowledged Zambia’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and emphasized the importance of assessing the country’s current position to shape its future climate resilience strategy.

“One way to deal with the challenges is to determine where the country is today and redefine where it should get to,” De Waal said.

He commended Zambia for its proactive steps, noting that linking climate change mitigation efforts with broader development goals was essential for success.

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