Woensdag 12 Mei 2021 - 14u-15u

Abstract

Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa, depending on its neighbors to access other parts of the world beyond Africa. In spite of this, it is endowed with many rivers and lakes that are a source of livelihood for its people.

Climate change is a long-term variation from normal in average weather patterns.  Zambia, like any other country in the world, has been experiencing climate change.   Climate change has manifested itself in  unusual rain storms that fed flush floods, in unreliable rainfall that has seen crop failure in some areas in some years in droughts that have adversely affected livestock faming, and in increased temperatures in some areas. All of these have had adverse effects on the country’s economy and the people of Zambia.

Being a third world country, Zambia has a population that relies heavily on nature’s provisions. Any variation in weather patterns tends to have direct effect on the day to day life of the nearly many small scale farmers who depend on rain fed agriculture for a living.  Adverse effects are felt not only in agriculture sector but also in the health sector and in energy producing sector. Climate change has essentially affected every aspect of production and development in the country. Since climate change induces weather extremes, mitigating its impact can be a challenge for a country like Zambia.

The short course will cover the following aspects:

1. Indicators of climate change in Zambia
2. Effects of climate change in Zambia
3. Climate change mitigation measures and adaptation in Zambia
4. Challenges in mitigating climate change in Zambia