Why Zanzibar Should Act On Climate Change

CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS

BY ISSA YUSSUF, 15 JANUARY 2014

Zanzibar — ZANZIBAR is finalizing its 'Climate Change Strategy' along with 'Environment Act,' which is expected to minimize the worrying environmental degradation in many parts of the Islands.

The new initiative which is set to replace the Environment management for sustainable development Act of 1996,' is an answer to the warning by environmentalists that the land ruining is alarming.

Rising temperatures on land and sea, shortage of fresh water in many areas, seawater intrusion in farms close to the sea, water salinisation, and poor farm products, are some of negative effects of climate on Zanzibar.

Mr Sheha Mjaja, directorenvironment department, Office of the First President mentioned that about 145 different places surrounding Zanzibar have already felt the pitch of climate change.

To avoid the rising soil erosion, some families in Mjini-Kiuyu, Pemba will definitely have to shift to a safe area. Cutting down of trees and reckless construction of houses including tourists' hotels close to the sea are some of the human activities causing negative impact of climate change.

According to the current land use regulations, people including investors in hotels are supposed to build houses at a distance between ten and thirty metres from the beach, but the regulation "is being violated, yet it lacks punitive measures," said Mjaja.

"We need concerted efforts to minimize impacts of climate change. Leaders must act and citizens should be sensitized to conserve environment. NGOs and CBOs have an important part to play," said Mjaja adding that some people have started using mountain bikes to prevent erosion. Jongowe Development Association (JODA) has been one of the Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Zanzibar to respond to the national and global call for environment conservation which include climate change adaptation and mitigation.

JODA from Tumbatu Island has been organizing workshops and seminars for the local people in Northern part of Unguja Island, were impact of climate change is visible.

"We hope our meetings will bring change among the people. We need local people including farmers, fishers, people with disability, civil servants, and students to understand the effects of climate change so that they can take action," said Mr Mohammed Haji Mohamed, programme coordinator, JODA.

Mohammed said that the organized meetings have been helpful to the local people as they are provided with knowledge about risks of environment degradation. Thanks to the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) for supporting the sensitization programme.

In his speech last Sunday at the climax of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 revolution, President Ali Mohammed Shein also reiterated his call for environment protection, saying Zanzibaris have no alternative in conserving its small land, the only way out is to protect the 'endangered' environment.

"By considering the importance of environmental issues, given great weight in the world, the government passed the environment policy in 2013. The policy gives guidance on environment protection by taking into account the effects of climate change," said Shein.

He informed the gathering that the new environment policy emphasizes education on environment protection and conservation, plus inspection of residences, industries and hotels. The education includes conservation of forests and traditional trees, non-renewable national resources and biodiversities.

Shein said that efforts have also been made to ensure investment projects do not contribute to environment destruction and "in the past three year period, one hundred projects have been inspected and given advice." The president said the governments also made evaluation on the effects of climate change in Zanzibar and listed 165 areas affected by seawater.

He said if we do not act now, climate change will rapidly alter the lands and waters we all depend upon for survival, leaving our children and grandchildren with a very different world. Some of the most dangerous consequences of climate change include:

As temperatures rise, droughts will become more frequent and more severe, with potentially devastating consequences for agriculture, water supply and human health. Worldwide, approximately 100 million people live within three feet of sea level.

Sea level rise associated with climate change could displace tens of millions of people in low-lying areas - especially in developing countries. Inhabitants of some small island countries that rest barely above the existing sea level are already abandoning their islands, some of the world's first climate change refugees.

Zanzibar is already highly vulnerable to climate variability, and will be amongst most affected by future climate change. Findings in 2011/2012 research supported by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) reveals multiple risks, particularly to ecosystem services that underpin island economies.

Researchers in the report advised Zanzibar that adaptation can reduce the risks, cautioning of cost, and requires necessary finance and capacity to access and effectively use resources.

Mr Paul Watkiss, the research project director, said Zanzibar should act now, including considering Low carbon development by providing a more sustainable energy future, development and sustainability benefits, and opportunities for finance.

The objectives of the study: 'Climate Change on Zanzibar- Impacts, Adaptation, Economics &Low Carbon Growth' by the Global Climate Adaptation Partnership, and local partners' were to assess climate change impacts and their economic costs for Zanzibar.

Other objectives were to analyze costs and benefits of adapting to these effects over different timescales, assess the potential for low carbon growth, including development benefits and finance opportunities, and Build national capacity and take advantage of local knowledge.

In a general perspective a large proportion of Zanzibar's GDP and most of the livelihoods on the islands are associated with climate sensitivity activities, either directly such as with agriculture or tourism, or indirectly for example from the use of natural resources.

Therefore the economy and people of the islands are very dependent on the weather and climate. The researchers also observed that future climate change will lead to high economic costs in "developing countries especially Africa and small Islands like Zanzibar, likely to have higher relative impacts with uncertain economic costs than other world regions."

It is mentioned in the report that future changes also threaten national growth/development objectives, risks of non-marginal changes (irreversible loss), and that without global mitigation, post 2030 impacts would be very severe.

sOURCE: ALLaFRIC
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