By Gift Sitima:
The Centre for Environmental Policy and Advocacy (Cepa) has called for a change in mindset and collaborative efforts to promote the use of clean energy for environmental protection.
Cepa’s Executive Director, Herbert Mwalukomo, made the call at Mkwate Trading Centre in Lunzu, Blantyre during a clean energy awareness campaign, where he encouraged people to embrace clean energy to mitigate the country’s growing climate shocks.
He reiterated the importance of promoting green cooking technologies to combat deforestation, stating that if we cannot manage our environment, nature will retaliate and it will not be healthy.
“We should be thinking of changing our attitudes because most of the time we think that these other clean energy sources are meant for particular groups of people or perhaps for people who have a lot of money, which is not the case. These things are quite affordable, including gas cookers,” he said.
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Mwalukomo added that people have shown interest and many have adopted these technologies in areas where advocacy on the importance of clean energy has taken place.
However, he identified a lack of proper information and alternatives as major challenges that require a joint effort to sensitise communities.
“We talk about deforestation, we talk about climate change, we talk about the environment being degraded, but what action are we taking? That is what matters most.
“We are not the government but we are partnering with the government here in Blantyre, Salima and Lilongwe and we hope that more people can also join the fight to ensure that we are able to provide alternatives when discouraging people from cutting trees,” he said.
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Francisco Chingoli, Deputy Director for the Rural Electrification Programme in the Ministry of Energy, echoed Mwalukomo’s remarks, describing community engagement on clean energy as crucial for environmental protection.
“I would like to thank the development partners Cepa, Oxfam, the Civil Society Network on Climate Change and the European Union for their support to our ministry.
“What they are doing is very supportive because using clean energy is a key pillar in our ministry. Through the Department of Clean Cooking, we encourage people to adopt better cooking methods that do not have a negative impact on our environment,” he said.
Senior Chief Kapeni said that while every citizen has a responsibility to protect the environment, the authorities must also ensure that clean energy is affordable and accessible to all.
“I am very happy that people in my area have been sensitised on these very important issues and I believe my area will become a role model.
“Let me also urge all stakeholders and partners in environmental protection to ensure that alternative energy solutions are easily available to everyone in the country so that we can win this battle,” he said.
The energy awareness campaigns brought together various environmental stakeholders who showcased different renewable energy models and technologies available for local communities, illustrating their functionality and benefits.
Cepa, in partnership with Oxfam and the Civil Society Network on Climate Change, is implementing the Promoting Equitable Access to Clean Energy project with funding from the European Union in the districts of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Salima.
The project focuses on creating an enabling environment for equitable access to clean energy.
