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Zambia has signed and ratified the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) Treaty, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s climate research and resilience efforts.
The treaty signing ceremony, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka on Tuesday, was officiated by Acting Minister of Technology and Science Chipoka Mulenga, who is also the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
Mulenga stated the severe climate challenges facing the Southern African region, including droughts, floods, and cyclones, which have negatively impacted food security, agriculture, and economic development.
“Countries like Zambia and Malawi have faced food insecurity due to droughts, while Mozambique has experienced devastating cyclones, with 2019 seeing an estimated loss of US$ 290 billion,” Mulenga said.
According to the UNECA Climate Policy Centre, the cost of climate change-related losses in Africa could range from US$ 290 billion to US$ 440 billion.
Mulenga highlighted that the lack of research in these areas had hampered preparedness and response efforts.
To address these challenges, five SADC countries—Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zambia—partnered with Germany in 2012 to establish SASSCAL.
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The initiative was formalised through a joint declaration of intent, followed by a memorandum and articles of association, culminating in the signing of a legally binding treaty in 2019.
Mulenga further explained that ratification of the treaty by member states was necessary for SASSCAL to gain full legal personality and become an international organization with UN recognition.
He also acknowledged that limited research capacity and funding in Southern African countries had made them reliant on imported scientific knowledge, which often did not align with regional needs. SASSCAL was created to bridge this gap and enhance evidence-based decision-making.
Several climate-related projects have already been implemented in Zambia under SASSCAL, including the WeNET Automated Weather Stations Project, Green Hydrogen Atlas, and initiatives aimed at improving climate resilience in agriculture.
These efforts have been supported by Germany and other international partners.
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