LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi has put an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emission by 50% in the year 2040 if local coffers and developmental partners will provide resources timely.
The country requires about US$46 billion with 80% from international donors while remaining funds from government as Malawi falls under conditioned nations.
The ambition plan is part of 2015 Paris Agreement which mandated countries to have Nationally Determined Contributors (NDCs); activities that respond to effects of climate change caused by global warming.
Malawi as a carbon emitter in 2015, per capita was 1.4 tones (per person) while the revived NDC wants to reduce carbon to 0.7 tones per capita by 2040.
Chief Environmental Officer in Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) under Forestry Ministry who is also Country Focal Point for NDCs, Evance Njerwa told The Maravi Post after the sidelines stakeholders dialogue on NDCs review process in Salima on Tuesday that the plan is achievable as long as resources will be provided.
Njerwa who is also Country’s Climate Change negotiator appealed to international donors to commit themselves to Paris Agreement on NDCs
“We are determined to reduce carbon emissions in the country by 50% in 2040 as long as resource will be provided. We will intensify tree planting exercise, use of alternative sources including non-renewable sources of energy; solar energy and geothermal,” he says.
Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma observed that the NDCs process review was vital considering that the initial plan was not thoroughly consulted.
Ng’oma added that the current review NDCs process restructure the whole plan for easy and effective implementation for intended goals.
He therefore appealed to development partners to see Malawi’s NDCs pass for financial support once completely submitted.
“Although, Malawi is late in submitting its NDCs, we hope once submitted the country will secure required resources for implementation. While waiting for funds, the country must continue with NDCs activities including tree regeneration and use of alternative sources of energy to reduce carbon emission,” urges Ng’oma.
The Environmental Affairs Department (EAD) with support from Carbon Counts, European
Commission, German International Cooperation (GIZ) and United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) through the Climate Promise Initiative is in the process of revising the
country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The process involves engaging with stakeholders to create awareness on the current NDC and soliciting feedback on how to improve the current NDC and how stakeholders envision incorporating the NDC into their adaptation and
mitigation plans.