A CLIMATE change expert has implored the government to consider investing more in climate change adaptation measures as the country was more vulnerable due to lack of resources.
Climate change scientist in the ministry of Environment, Tatenda Mutasa, told Daily News on Sunday yesterday that there was a need to impart more knowledge on climate change given that Zimbabwe’s economy was largely agrarian.
“Climate change is putting more pressure on developing countries because we depend much on climate sensitive sectors like agriculture, water resources and even forestry,” Mutasa said, adding that it also negatively affects the water cycle by influencing when and how rain falls. We used to receive our rainfall as early as October but because of climate change we are even receiving rains in December or even January. The onset of the rain season has changed so this climate change can affect the intensity and frequency of precipitation,” he said.
Mutasa also said cyclones that have become a common feature in Africa have been as a result of climate change.
“For the past five years we have been having a lot of cyclones, for instance Cyclone Idai, which destroyed human and wildlife. This is due to climate change,” he said.
Speaking ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) recently President Emmerson Mnangagwa said there was a need for global nations to move from rhetoric to action on climate change issues, as extreme weather conditions were threatening livelihoods and lives, with Zimbabwe among the worst affected nations. The president warned that if the world does not act now on climate change, millions of jobs would be lost with negative consequences on livelihoods.
