Special Essay

The green future is now!

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Fighting climate change with energy-saving stoves P3 UNDP commits to battle against effects of climate change P21

Special pullout the nation 7 MaRch 2013

the gReen futuRe iS now!

by prof. Sosten chiotha

the following institutions and organisations that are promoting climate change in Malawi
1. VSO 2. Plan 3. Maeve/Hestian 4. Training Support for Partners 5. Cepa 6. Cadecom 7. Evangelical Association 8. Rain Water Harvesting 9. Chanco Lead 10. UNFPA 11. Swedish Cooperative 12. Department Of Climate Change 13. Find Your Feet 14. Raiply 15. Solar Aid 16. Total Land Care
Climate change led to the drying up of Lake Chilwa
PHOTOGRAPH: nATiOn libRARy

The green future is now! C

limate change is probably the greatest environmental challenge facing the world in the 21st century. Global climate change is about serious disruptions of the worlds weather and climate systems, more appreciated through impacts on rainfall patterns and other extreme weather events. Malawi is not immune to the impacts of climate change. In 2011/12 rainy season, the onset of rainfall was much earlier than in the 2012/13 season. On the other hand, while the 2011/12 season had prolonged dry spells such that some famers had to replant maize more than once, the current rainy season has gone to the other extreme with higher rainfall, causing devastating floods in some areas such as Phalombe. However, climate change is not about short-term experiences as felt over the last two years in Malawi. Rather, as the Malawi State of Environment and Outlook Report (MSEOR) of 2010 argues, climate change is about shifts that happen over many years. For example, Malawi has in the last 40 to 50 years experienced climate and weather extremes with increased frequency and intensity, especially in terms of floods and droughts. In addition, the MSEOR cites a number of sources indicating that since 1965, temperature measurements at Mzuzu, Nkhotakota and Bvumbwe show mean temperature anomalies, otherwise the whole country is generally warmer compared to two decades ago. These climate shifts, spanning over several decades are used as evidence of long-term climate variability and climate change in Malawi. Because climate change has direct and indirect impacts on virtually all social and economic sectors of Malawi, it deserves attention in all development planning and implementation. The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) for Malawi was officially launched in 2008, but translation into action was hampered by lack of an associated budget. It is encouraging; however, that the climate change communication strategy was launched in 2012 and the national climate change policy is advanced in its development. Hopefully, these can translate into better coordinated and tangible actions on the ground. In this supplement we look at green economy and climate compatible development as emerging concepts that need to be embraced in development planning and implementation. According to the National Statistical Office (NSO2009), at least 84 percent of Malawians are employed in natural resourcebased sectors such as agriculture, forestry and fishing. These sectors, including wildlife, energy and health, are climate sensitive. Concepts such as Green Economy and Climate Compatible Development are, therefore, relevant to Malawi in so far as they help guide development on to a sustainability path against a background of an economy that is built on climate sensitive sectors. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), green economy is defined as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. In a green economy, growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and

ecosystem services. Therefore, targeted public expenditure, policy reforms and regulation changes will help boost these investments. Some examples could be private sector investment in clean energy technologies such as solar and wind power as well as cleaner production technologies which produce less waste and less pollution from industries. Promotion of biogas to manage waste while generating energy from sources such as urban waste, livestock manure and human sewage could be a step in the right direction. While these technologies are not new to Malawi, the scale of adoption has been scattered and less satisfactory. Incentivising such technologies and providing technical support would help scale up such technologies. The second concept, Climate Compatible Development (CCD) as defined by the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), is development that minimises the harm caused by climate impacts, while maximising the many human development opportunities presented by a low PAGE 3

Special pullout the nation 7 MaRch 2013

Fighting climate change with energy-saving stoves

EmmanuEl muwamba Staff RepoRteR
n Balaka, firewood and charcoal trading has emerged as a major coping mechanism to climate change. Stacks of firewood and charcoal are lined up for customers, especially those driving towards Blantyre. The cutting down of trees for firewood and charcoal production is not a sustainable livelihood option as it leads to the degradation of the environment and increase fuel wood scarcity, observes Elida Mwale. Mwale a member of the Talandila Stove Production Group, producers of fuelefficient cook-stoves, said the continued trading of firewood and charcoal means that the livelihoods of the communities were changing in relation to climate variability. Mwale indicated that in order to adapt to climate change, the community livelihood had to change and that communities had to devise coping strategies in order to survive. Talandila Stove Production Group situated in Mbengo Village, Traditional Authority Nsamala has five members, four of which are women. The group produces fuel efficient cooking stoves, a technology that helps limit the amount fuel used for cooking. The stoves have many benefits which can enhance the lives of the poorest people both directly and indirectly by reducing inhalation of smoke from cooking. Using a clean cook-stove lessens this occurrence. In addition cooking takes less wood which in turn eases pressure on deforestation and lessens the burden on women and children who spend many hours gathering fuel wood, said Mwale who is a part of a production group of women in Malawi who have all gained a

FeatuReS/Special eSSay

the gReen FutuRe iS now!

The green future is now!

PAGE 2 emissions, more resilient future. Climate compatible development moves beyond the traditional separation of adaptation, mitigation and development strategies. Instead, it emphasises climate strategies that embrace development goals and strategies that integrate the threats and opportunities of a changing climate. Using this path, we can develop, while keeping our emissions low and at the same time build resilience of our communities and ecosystems. Examples of climate compatible development in Malawi include hydropower generation at Nkula Falls, climate smart agriculture, energy saving stoves, and solar energy initiatives. Considering that over 90 percent of Malawis export is accounted for by natural resource sectors, several economic activities, including production, consumption and waste disposal affect and are affected by the environment. Hence, it only makes business sense not to address the current environmental degradation in Malawi in isolation, but as key to sustain economic growth and to improve livelihoods. As argued above, climate change is a challenge because of Malawis climate sensitive development sectors and hence, Malawians would be wise to take advantage of opportunities that arise from emerging approaches such as green economy and climate compatible development. Malawis case is more urgent considering that according to Population Action International (2012), the country is one of 15 population and climate hotspots. These are countries that have high rates of population growth, high projected declines in agricultural production and low resilience to climate change. In addition, Malawi has the highest annual rate of urbanisation in the world at 6.3 percent (UN Habitat 2009) but according to Capacity Needs Assessment Report (2012), there is inadequate capacity to manage the process resulting in proliferation of unplanned settlements and slums. Apart from putting pressure on natural resources, the unplanned settlements increase vulnerability to impacts of climate change. These are additional pointers to rethink development paradigms and green economy and climate compatible developments need to be explored to provide some development strategies that may help address the complex development challenges for Malawi as highlighted in this special supplement.

This is how the energy-saving stoves look like

livelihood from manufacturing improved cook stoves from local materials. At the time of the interview, Mwale had produced 50 stoves. Each stove is sold at K300 to marketers in the villages in Balaka as a way of combating climate change as well as saving the environment. Mwale explained that as a stove producer she is now able to pay school fees for her two daughters currently in secondary and meet needs of the family such as clothes and food. Two other daughters are in primary school. She brags that the skill she has learnt will help her for the rest of her life and would be passed on to other family members. It is a life time skills, she said. Georgina Abel is also a user of improved cook stoves promoted by Concern Universal and Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (CEPA). Abel noted that as a user she no longer wastes wood, she is able to cook wherever she is because the stove is portable, and she is reliable to cook food in a short period of time. It uses only three sticks of wood at a time for cooking. Unlike with the previous use of three stone fires for cooking, my children are not harmed even when they accidentally get into contact with the stove, she added. Climate change has impacted on the livelihoods of the communities in Balaka through reduced agricultural production resulting in food insecurity; through diseases including HIV and AIDS, malnutrition, water shortages and loss of household and community assets. Lucy Kabango a member of the stove production group mentioned food insecurity as the most important and outstanding effect of climate change in the district. She said Mbengo Village experiences too much precipitation within a short period of time resulting in flooding and inadequate rain leading to dry spells and droughts leading to crop failure which results in low or no yields. Therefore most households have experienced reduced harvests over recent years which have resulted in chronic food insecurity, she said. But with the innovation of the cooking stoves, Ineji Black claims that the members including some beneficiaries in the villages have increased their involvement in community protected area management. Since 2008 when the group was set up, we have managed to promote the establishment of community forests. People have changed attitudes on the conservation of natural resources and soon the charcoal business will be an issue of the past, said Black. She added that households have had time to diversified crops production with good husbandry practices and land resource management because women are no longer spending a lot of time gathering firewood in bushes when three sticks can be used for cooking. In the past we have had incidences of lack of food PAGE 27

Quotable Quotes

1. CaDECOm: Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) approach can increase communities resilience to the effects of climate change 2. Eam: Climate change refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time.

PHOTOGRAPH: emmAnuel muwAmbA

Special pullout the nation 7 MaRch 2013

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Special pullout the nation 7 MaRch 2013

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Malawis take on COP 18

EmmanuEl muwamba Staff RepoRteR

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he UN Framework Convention on Climate Change conference, held in Doha, Qatar, ended with expected results, at least but the response to the meetings outcome has been varied. The meeting brought no new agreement to limit the greenhouse-gas emissions that are set to warm the world still more, and no deal on new funds to help poor countries adapt. Yet the delegates left with some achievements that could, in time, come to matter. Some experts believe that the climate change talks in Doha the Doha Climate Gateway opened up a new gateway to bigger ambition and to greater action. Others are, however, more cautious, and view these outputs as having a low ambition both in emissions cuts by developed country Parties and funding for developing countries. A major criticism of the Doha decisions is the lack of funds to be provided to developing countries to take climate actions, between 2013 and 2020. Reacting to the outcome, the EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard called it a modest step toward a global climate deal. The Malawi Government in its report describes the Doha outcome as mixed, but provides elements of a strong foundation to build upon as long as countries continue to push for short-term ambition and to move toward low-carbon development. The signing of the second commitment period of the KP (Kyoto Protocol) is a positive development as it preserves the key mechanisms such as emissions trading and the CDM. It further represents an important political gesture by a set of major industrialized countries, reads part of the conclusion of the report. Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits its Parties (countries) by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets. Doha has opened up a new gateway to bigger ambition and to greater actionthe Doha Climate Gateway. Qatar is proud to have been able to bring governments here to achieve this historic task. I thank all governments and ministers for their work to achieve this success. Now governments must move quickly through the Doha Climate Gateway to push forward with the solutions to

Former Environment minister Gotani-Hara (C) and some of the delegates from malawi at the COP 18
climate change, said COP President Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah. The Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Christiana Figueres, called on countries to swiftly implement what has been agreed in Doha so that the world can stay below the internationally agreed maximum two degrees Celsius temperature rise. I congratulate the Qatar Presidency for managing a complex and challenging conference. Now, there is much work to do. Doha is another step in the right direction, but we still have a long road ahead. The door to stay below two degrees remains barely open. The science shows it, the data proves it, said Figueres. The UN Climate Change negotiations must now focus on the concrete ways and means to accelerate action and ambition. The world has the money and technology to stay below two degrees. After Doha, it is a matter of scale, speed, determination and sticking to the timetable, she said. In Doha, governments also successfully concluded work under the Convention that began in Bali in 2007 and ensured that remaining elements of this work will be continued under the UN Climate Change process. The next major UN Climate Change ConferenceCOP19/ CMP9 - will take place in Warsaw, Poland, at the end of 2013. The 195 parties to the UN climate convention unanimously decided in 2011 to set themselves on a path that would most likely not produce a major breakthrough in the negotiations for another three years. Evans Njewa, Principal Environmental Officer responsible for Policy and Planning, Climate Change and Global Environment Facility in the Environmental Affairs Department in his presentation in December said the COP18 in Doha launched a new commitment under the KP , agreed a firm timetable to adopt a universal climate agreement by 2015, and agreed on a path to raise ambition to respond to climate change. COP also endorsed the completion of new institutions and agreed on ways and means to deliver scaled-up climate finance and technology to developing countries. A relief was that the multilateral climate change regime has survived yet again, although there are such deep differences and mistrust among developed and developing countries. Pledges from the developed countries were a milestone, said Njewa, a member of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee of the Kyoto Protocol. During the two-week negotiations, the Malawi negotiators contributed extensively to statements and position points made by the African, Least Developed Countries and Group of 77 and China. Most importantly, during the actual negotiations, the lead negotiators played a key role in contributing to, and drafting the conclusions and decisions that were finally adopted in the various thematic areas under the Kyoto Protocol, finance, adaptation, agriculture, land use, land use change and forestry, clean development mechanism, technology development and transfer, legal matters, capacity building, and reduction of emissions from forest deforestation and degradation (REDDplus). In addition, the delegation conducted a number of bilateral consultations with development partners and the business community on various thematic areas, including energy, agriculture and food security, disaster risk management, carbon sequestration and carbon trading, among others. Further, Malawi made presentations in side events on Climate-smart Agriculture, and Climate Adaptation for Rural Livelihoods and Agriculture (CARLA). Furthermore, Malawi hosted a kiosk where a number of displays were exhibited depicting success stories that have been implemented by government, civil society, academia, faithbased organizations and other nonstate actors on adaptation and mitigation designed to achieve food security and contribute to reduction of green house gas emissions. Bilateral and multilateral contacts The Malawi delegation also conducted several bilateral and multilateral contacts aimed at further strengthening the existing cordial relationships with the Swedish, Scottish, Japanese, Qatar, United Kingdom, Republic of Germany, Australian governments, and organizations including the UNDP the Act , Alliance and others, who support climate change initiatives in the country. Benefits to Malawi Njewa in his presentation reported that Malawi stands to benefit from the conference through various decisions reached on adaptation, national adaptation plans (NAPs), nationally appropriate mitigation actions (Namas), national communications, capacity building, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDDplus), and carbon trading initiatives. As such, Malawi needs to advance development of its Namas, NAPs and development PAGE 27

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Does climate change fight need religion?

FATSANI GUNYA Correspondent
ssues of environmental degradation environmental degradationisthedeterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. and climate change have been gaining ground within faith communities for some time, and often fit into religious teachings that promote helping impoverished communities and upholding justice. In fact, one American environmental activist once said: If you could eavesdrop on prayers, you might hear one like this during the holiday season: Dear God, its time for you to intervene and show our lawmakers why they need to be serious about fighting climate change. This shows that God and global warming are very much on the minds of some religious leaders these days. Religion has always played a key role in world politics. But religious groups also have been taking stances on global warming and its related environmental causes in recent years. Religious leaders across the globe almost unanimously say climate change will disproportionably impact the poor who lack the money and other resources to fight health problems brought on by air pollution. In the United States, which is the worst emitter of green house gases, an organisation called the Interfaith Power and Light aids all congregations in becoming models for energy efficiency by offering energy-saving products, connecting congregations to wind power suppliers, providing samplesermonsonenvironmental stewardship, encouraging public policy advocacy and much more. Its executive director Susan Stephenson said of late, there has been a huge increase in congregations wanting to get involved and realising that global warming is reaching a crisis and its something that people of faith should be concerned with. It is important because people share moral values that, in large part, come from their religious faiths, she said. If we as a nation are contributing more than a quarter of the worlds greenhouse gas emissions but are only (about) four percent of the population, that is a moral issue and thats something we need to change. As if not to feel outdone, Africa has decided to join the bandwagon of those activists calling for more caution on greenhouse emissions, and is since lobbying for more

the gReen FutuRe iS now!

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Some of the youths that have joined the good cause

funds towards environmental sustainability and protection. Who can blame the stance activists from the continent have taken when it actually accounts to a larger proportion of those worst hit by the wests industrial activities. And faith groups also feel it is high time they protected their flock. As part of that motivation, many faith groups are slowly but firmly offering resources and programs for congregations that want to take action. In the sub- Saharan Africa, a campaign flying under the banner We have faith, act now for climate justice is now championing the call for global leaders to cut on all green gas emissions and invest back in the sustainability of the environment. In 2011, the faith-based Climate Change Caravans- dubbed We have faith, act now for climate justice- was very instrumental in putting pressure on all world leaders to act for climate justice during the forthcoming Climate Summit (COP17) in Durban. Chairperson of the Malawi Council of Churches (MCM), Reverend Dr Osborne JodaMbewe, who also oversaw the campaign, explained why it is necessary for faith groups to join in lobbying for climate change justice. It is high time churches took active roles in the fight. The science is clear that human activities are changing the weather patterns of the planet. This misuse of creation is affecting all life forms. We are failing to be faithful stewards. Just as God gave us the environment for food production, we equally have a responsibility

Joda-Mbewe: We are failing to be faithful stewards

to work on the land and support the ecosystem. We feel its not on to stay out and watch while our faithful suffer the effects of climate change. We have to act and the youth should be the centre for every action we take, he said. Joda-Mbewe added: This is intrinsic to the entire Christian faith. If youre going to love your neighbour, then how can you trash the air, water and land that keeps them healthy? That was the theology that was the basis for our action. Joda-Mbewe however feels the youth must be incorporated to help fill the gap; a thing he said will also ensure sustainability of the campaign. Director for Environmental Affairs department Dr Aloysius Kamperewera concurred with MCC, adding the youththough usually neglected, represents the future. But the future is now and since mitigating climate change effects demands a multi-sectoral approach; all we have to do is to identify specific roles in which the

youth can be deployed to make a positive impact, he said. He also said government has already put some programmes to be championed by the youth such as help building resilience to minimise climate change effects and effective awareness campaigns to consolidate adaptation. Youths from various organisations countrywide including the Episcopal Conference of Malawi and the national youth network on climate change have since joined forces in pushing for climate justice at various forums; and roles they can play in the campaign. National coordinator of African youth initiative on climate change, Heather Maseko, said that only collective young voices have the potential to force global leaders to agree to fair and legally binding resolves at annual global climate change conferences. As Malawi, I think we have to specifically lobby for global temperatures to be kept at 1.5 degrees centigrade at such international platforms. We want the developed countries to commit themselves by a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by the year 2050, said Maseko; adding her organization already kick-started the ploy in Durban during the COP17 climate change conference. Maseko also said that the country needs to mainstream climate change fight, adding that the issue is cross-cutting. One of the faith-based youth organizations currently engaged in the mitigation and control of climate change among communities is the Society of Anglican Students Associates (Sasa). SASA publicity secretary for the central region chapter Philip Pemba also drummed support for climate change justice and how best his organisation is engaging communities to help look after the environment. Religion gives us a deeper understanding to the issue. There are a lot of places in our teachings that talk about the connection to nature, the importance of creation those shared values help us to explain a lot of these issues. Its not just about actions; its about fulfilling our obligation to the world. As climate change unfolds, more and more groups will look toward the faith community to help motivate people to act. Indeed, the climate change fight needs concerted efforts, and the faith groups cannot be left out!

PHOTOGRAPHs: fATsAni GunyA

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John Chirwa Staff Writer
unnyMoney, a social enterprise owned by SolarAid, has intensified its efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change by promoting the use of solar lights in the country. In an interview, SunnyMoney operations manager Frank Mwafulirwa said households can contribute to the reduction of the effects of climate change by adopting use of solar lamps instead of the traditional paraffin ones. He said the kerosene lamps emit carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, thereby increasing bad effects of climate change. Said Mwafulirwa: In Malawi, only 6.5 percent of the population has access to electricity while over 85 percent of the population depend largely on kerosene lamps as source of lighting. Thus, we can estimate that there are about 4.9 million lanterns in use and hence, large amounts of carbon monoxide are emitted into the atmosphere. He added that the adverse effects of oil extraction on the environment can be minimised if individuals resort to the use of solar lights. The period between 2010 and 2011, the organisation distributed about 4 000 solar lights and last year, they

Special pullout the nation 7 MaRch 2013

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SunnyMoney combats climate change through solar lamps

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distributed over 11 312 solar lights. According to Mwafulirwa, this shows that awareness on the use of solar lights is bearing fruit. A survey conducted by SunnyMoney in the country reveals that households which depend on kerosene lamps spend K440 every week on paraffin. And such, households emit 200kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. Mwafulirwa; therefore, called on other stakeholders to borrow a leaf from SunnyMoney because they will not only improve the economic status of the communities, but will also reduce the effects of climate change. He, however, said the VAT of 16.5 percent on solar products and the instability of the exchange rate are some of the major challenges affecting the programme because solar lights are imported. This, in turn, increases the cost of solar products even more, putting more pressure on communities to use paraffin.

Mwafulirwa: awareness is bearing fruit

PHOTOGRAPH: NATiON LibRARy

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JAMES CHAVULA News ANAlyst
n any agricultural economy, nothing can be more torturous than farmers toiling in vain. Chronic food shortages occur in times of erratic rains and other extreme effects of climate change, but rural farmers in Balaka say it can be a matter of life and death. Food insecurity is the worst form of poverty, almost a death sentence, says Duncan Makuluni, one of the farmers who have abandoned ridges to conserve land and boost yields. At 78, the father of seven has endured burdens of traditional ridge-and-furrow farming, but now plants on a flat stretch where his harvest is admittedly increasing. I plant more crops on the land I inherited from my parents and the harvest is rising as the cost of ridging and weeding is declining. Interestingly, the crops retain moisture for dry days and require no weeding because the crop canopy suffocates all unwanted plants in their shadows, says Makuluni. His garden comprises healthy maize, groundnuts and other legumesall growing on flat land. Many plant groundnuts on ridges spaced about 75cm apart, but his are interspaced 37.5cm. In the maize plots, there is one crop per station to lessen competition for nutrients. Covering the soil are crop residues which stifle weeds and eventually become manure. Similarly, Cassim Masi says doing away with ridges have given him more time to spend with their families, take part in public life and venture into other income generating activities. When rains are erratic, our crops are safe because this technology saves moisture. At last, we are happy to do away with ridging and to put our time to better use, says Masi. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Maize (CIMMYT) trained the conservational farmers seven years ago. The international maize and wheat improvement centres conservation agriculture specialist Christian Thierfelder says unpredictable rain patterns and rapid population growth require farmers to find ways of harvesting more while minimising soil disturbances and maintaining soil wetness. Our calculations shows it takes a farmer 25 labour days to make ridges on a hector. Why should one waste days when they can get exactly or higher yields by doing less? argues Thierfelder, saying they registered another success story Nkhotakota last

Balaka farmers beating climatic odds

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Masi: Our crops are safe when rains are erratic

year. According to Machinga Agriculture Development Division (Madd) programme manager Gertrude KalindeTaulo, planting on flat using dibble sticks or sharp objects could help beat the pressures of land shortage and irregular rain pattern. The division comprises about 838 000 farming households in Balaka, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi. In Balaka, it is easy for a farmer to lose all crop in one season. We always advise farmers to grow drought resistant crops and fastmaturing varieties, but there is need for methods that reinforce farmers resilience to dry spells, says KalindeTaulo. According to Total Land Care executive director Zwide Jere, about 10 percent of the farming population has upgraded to conservation agriculture. Extension officers and successful farmers must be empowered with requisite skills and farm inputs to further popularise smart technologies, says Jere.

Kalinde-Taulo: We advise farmers to grow the right crops

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Malawi applauded but need to finalise plan

PAGE 11 of project preparation grants from the four projects whose PIFs were recently approved by the Global Environment Facility, said Njewa. During the conference, Malawi was applauded for being the first least developed country (LDC) to submit a NAP project concept entitled Implementing urgent adaptation priorities through strengthened decentralized and national development plans (through the UNDP to a tune of US$4.5m), and top on the list of 48 LDCs to have accessed more than US$20 million from the LDCs fund for adaptation projects in the course of this year alone. Selection into bodies of the convention Once again the efforts displayed by the Malawi negotiators were recognised. Njewa, principal environmental officer and Malawis lead negotiator in the Environmental Affairs Department was selected as a member of the Joint Implementation Supervisory Committee (JISC) of the Kyoto Protocol); Frederick Kossam, chief meteorologist and negotiator in the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services as member of the Adaptation Committee while Ben Yassin, Chief Environmental Officer in the Environmental Affairs Department as member of the Least Developed Countries Group of Experts. The government has observed that Malawi needs to advance development of Namas, NAPs and finalisation of project preparation grants from the projects whose Project Information Forms (PIFs) were recently approved by the Global Environment Facility. In his presentation, Njewa noted that there is also need

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Was among the top dignitaries: Ban

to finalise the Climate Change Investment Plan and the National Climate Change Policy, which can be used to solicit funding for projects. Further, Malawi needs to reapply to the Adaptation Fund Board for accreditation of a national implementing entity. A new institution should be used, and one such potential candidate is the Malawi Environment Endowment Trust (Meet). The 19th Conference of the Parties and the 9th Conference of the Parties also serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CoP19/CMP9) shall be held in Warsaw, Poland from Monday, 11 November to Friday, 22 November 2013. Before the CoP19, inter-sessional preparatory meetings and workshops will be held next year to continue with the remaining work. The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 3 to 14, 1992. The objective of the treaty is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The UNFCCC CoP18 and the 8th session of the Conference of Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP8) were held in Doha, Qatar from 26th November to 7th December 2012. The Conference brought together over 10,000 representatives of the worlds governments, international organizations, civil society and the media. The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, and executive secretary to the UNFCCC, Ms Christiana Figueres, were among the top dignitaries present. Malawi was represented at the Conference by Cabinet Ministers, senior government officials, professional, civil society, media and academic staff. The delegation was led by Catherine Gotani-Hara, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change Management. The Minister delivered Malawis national statement on achievements made and challenges encountered in the implementation of climate change activities in the country. Financial support for the Malawi delegation was received from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Trust Fund, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union, and the World Bank.

Environment-friendly stoves saving money

PAGE 3 which led to increased prevalence of malnutrition in the communities. But now we generate enough money to buy food in times of need, she added. At the moment, the group has about K350 000 in the village saving bank, chipped in Charles Mkondana chairperson of the Talandila Stove Production Group. Now we are so determined that the government expressed its support towards the production and use of these stoves, said Mkondana referring to the recent visit by President Joyce Banda and former Irish Prime Minister Mary Robinson. The Talandila Stove Production Group is a beneficiary of a fiveyear project which started in August 2011 with a five-month inception phase and three months start-up phase running from January through March 2012. Actual implementation of project activities started in April 2012. The project is being funded by DFID, Irish Aid and Norwegian Embassy to the tune of GBP8.7million through the Joint Resilient Unit to climate change. The project is being implemented in a consortium arrangement and Concern Universal is the lead agency for the consortium. The Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (Cepa) is a technical partner to Discover (developing innovative solutions with communities to overcome vulnerability for enhanced resilience). On January 10, President Banda announced a target of two million clean and efficient cook-stoves throughout the country by 2020. At the launch, the President participated in a cook stove demonstration and welcomed the commitment of Ireland and the United States to support women across the world, particularly in Malawi, gain access to fuel efficient cookstoves. The partnership will assist in meeting President Bandas goal of producing and distributing two million stoves by 2020 to some of the poorest households in Malawi. The stoves have many benefits which can enhance the lives of the poorest people both directly and indirectly. Inhalation of smoke from cooking is the cause of over two million premature deaths worldwide, including an estimated 13 000 annually in Malawi, most of them women and young children. Furthermore, there is also the opportunity that stoves could generate carbon credits which could then be used to fund village development projects. In 2012 carbon credits from stoves sold in Balaka, Ntcheu and Dedza raised approximately 200 000 (about K100 million) which will be channelled back into community development projects from 2013. It is anticipated that this money gained from carbon credits will increase significantly in the future as the use and prevalence of stoves also increases. US and Ireland are jointly providing financial support to the Malawi Government and NGOs to promote the use of clean and improved fuel efficient stoves for thousands of Malawian households. A comprehensive countrywide cook-stove market assessment was set to begin earlier this month and will conclude in March with recommendations on how to collectively move forward with reaching two million households in the coming seven years.

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THE GREEN FUTURE IS NOW!

Raiply: Fighting climate change

GEORGE SINGINI Staff RepoRteR

FEATURES

Omen: we have not been spared

aiply Limited has said it will leave no stone unturned in the fight against climate change. Raiply, which has 2 600 employees, is one of the companies that rely on trees to produce various products, some of which

are exported to generate forex for the country. However with climate change effects, production of various items has been put to a test as the rains are unpredictable. Chief executive officer for the company Thomas Omen says climate change has not spared the company as they now have

to plant trees at risk due to the unpredictable rainfall patterns and bushfires. In the past we used to have seven months of rainfall in Chikangawa, which was ideal for our business, but these days we experience consistency for two months then we have unpredictable rains. The rains would start

FIND YOUR FEET

SUPPORTING RURAL COMMUNITIES

FYF through ASWAP Support Project is working with rural communities in Euthini, Bulala and Mjinge Extension Planning Areas in Mzimba district on a number of agronomic trials. The trials will give farmers a wide range of technologies including pit planting, agroforestry, soil mulching and many others from which they can choose the ones that are best suited for their agro ecological zone. It is anticipated that the chosen technologies will sustainably increase farmers yields.

in November but now they start in January and by mid-march there are no rains. As such the young trees, get scorched with sun and people also put up bush fires, which is costly, Omen says. He explains the bushfires are ignited by poachers, bee farmers, villagers who clear their field by setting fire, illegal operators who cook in the forests, pedestrians who throw cigarettes in the bush and unfaithful employees. However as part of its drive to fight climate change, the company plants trees every year. An average of 500 hectares is redressed every year. Since 2000, Raiply has covered 5500 hectares. The company also fights bushfires and its well-trained staff sensitise people on the evils of bushfires. They hire game officials to fight poaching. Omen boasts of the newly set up factory Export

Process Zone (EPZ) as an answer to wanton cutting down of trees. The factory recycles wood waste into medium density fibre boards. The project will cost $24 million. We injected $14 million in the first phase. This project is very vital in the fight against climate change. First thing is that we do not need to cut more trees to produce materials as we recycle the waste. Previously, we would burn the waste which has an effect on the ozone layer. So, this is a perfect initiative towards fighting climate change, says Omen. Apart from being an initiative aimed at fighting climate change, the factory has created employment for hundreds of people. It also helps generate forex as the products are solely for export and they have found markets in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

PHOTOGRAPH: NATiON LibRARy

Soko: Effects can be mitigated

He added that afforestation programmes such as bee-keeping or use of fuel wood-saving stoves have stimulated the communitys enthusiasm in replanting and promoting regeneration. Trees that the communities are advised to plant are those which add nutrients to the soil such as nitrogen fixing acacia siamea, said Soko. Hesaidsuchprogrammes have also increased agricultural yields of the participating communities and have equipped them with adaptation skills from the effects of climate change.

The support to Chitukuko Fish Cage club in Chiweta has ensured that community members diversify their livelihood opportunities and not depend on growing of crops like maize, rice and cassava only for their food and income needs. FYF with the nancial support from the Development Fund of Norway (DF) has supported members of Chitukuko Fish cage to rear sh of Tilapia species (Oreochromis karongae) in Lake Malawi. The greater emphasis for farmers to practice technologies that lead to minimum soil disturbance as well as enhance compost making and utilization has ensured that moisture is conserved in the gardens of the farmers. The ultimate result has been signi cant crop increases for the participating farmers even in situations where rains were inadequate and erratic.

PHOTOGRAPH: NATiON LibRARy

FYF is supporting rural communities to conserve agricultural biodiversity by encouraging them to continue growing landarces. Crops like nger millet (Eleusine corocana), local maize, livingstone potato, bambara nuts and many others are under cultivation. The program has also seen construction of 14 community seed banks to enhance ex situ seed conservation. The objective ofbiodiversity conservation is to ensure that farmers grow a wide range of diversi ed crops so that if one crop fails due

Combating climate change through sustainable agricultural technologies

JOhN ChIRwa Staff WRiteR
Find Your Feet (FYF) organisation says effects of climate change can be mitigated if communities adopt sustainable agricultural technologies such as compost making, pit planting, conservation agriculture and agroforestry. Speaking in an interview with The Nation, FYF programmes manager Chimwemwe Soko said these technologies have been implemented in areas such as Mzimba, Nkhata Bay and Rumphi, mostly because they are usually affected by the effects of climate change. Most of these areas are also affected by deforestation due to the presence of tobacco farms which demand a lot of firewood. For example, Bolero in Rumphi is mostly a rain-shadow area which experiences erratic rains. So, such agricultural techniques not only help enrich the soil, but they also help retain water for the crops, said Soko.

to unfavourable climatic conditions the other crops might do well.