World Bank senior disaster risk specialist Francis Nkoka has said there need to strengthen the country’s disaster and Climate risk preparedness through adequate financing and strong legal framework.
He said this on Friday in Lilongwe when the Association of Environmental Journalists and environmental partners such as Concern World held a green climate walk in the city.
The green climate walk was aimed at amplifying the need for more mitigation and adaptation interventions on climate change in the country. Nkoka said Malawi is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, ranking 161 out of181bin the Global Adaptation Initiative Index.
He said floods and droughts alone are estimated to cost the country around 1.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) per year on average.
In his remarks, Concern Worldwide country director Yousaf Jogezai said low-incpme countries such as Malawi are low pollutants but are exposed to some of the most severe climate impacts.
He said poor countries also have the least capacity to adapt and find it hard to recover from the devastating impacts caused by floods, droughts and cyclones.
“We are calling on high-income countries to deliver on this commitment to support low income countries to face the impact of climate change and renew their greenhouse gas emissions,”Jogazei Said.
On his part, Association of Environmental Journalists president Mathews Malata called for Serious participation from those sent to represent Malawi during climate summits.
Source: Nation_Fostina Mkandawire_25/10/2021