By Rebecca Chimjeka in Bonn, Germany:
Research conducted by the Centre for the Green Economy in Developing Countries (Ceged), a United Kingdom-based organisation that assists developing nations in transitioning to a green economy, shows that Malawi’s carbon dioxide emissions have increased steadily since 1990.
In 1990, Malawi emitted 0.72 million kilotons of carbon dioxide and by 2020, the figure had risen to 1.64 million kilotons, representing an increase of 127 percent.
But Chief Environmental Officer at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Evans Njewa, has said the situation is not as bad because Malawi is trying its best to reduce the emissions.
“All we need is support from development partners to help us implement our Nationally Determined Contributions [NDCs],” Njewa said.
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NDCs are country’s specific targets of reducing emissions.
Ceged Malawi Executive Director Manfred Chaponda said in an interview that the continued rise in the emissions is a cause for concern as it contributes to climate change.
According to the report, factors that are contributing to the rise in Malawi’s emissions include the country’s growing population.
“As the population increases, so does the demand for energy, which is often generated from fossil fuels. Another significant factor is deforestation. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so deforestation reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be stored,” the report reads.
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It further indicates that reducing emissions is essential for protecting the environment and ensuring long-term sustainability of the country’s economy.
National Coordinator for the Civil Society Network on Climate Change Julius Ng’oma said the extent of emissions does not paint a good picture.
“However, it is also important to note that the emissions are almost negligible compared to the contributions made by developed countries to the atmosphere. But this calls for urgent action by the government of Malawi in terms of cutting the emissions,” Ng’oma said.
He added that Malawi has to ensure that it upscales its mitigation efforts and ambitions in the next iteration of NDCs, which are at the heart of the Paris Agreement.
According to the report, by taking a proactive stance on environmental sustainability, Malawi can safeguard its economic future and ensure continued prosperity for its citizens.
Government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 69 percent by 2030.
