Malawi geared to track climate loss and damage

African Civil Society Organizations on climate change are advocating for implementation of innovative ways of mobilizing resources to deal with loss and damage brought by climate change.

This has come out of the African Regional Conference on Loss and Damage and Climate Finance currently underway in Lilongwe.

The conference, organized by Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) runs through the week and further hopes to strategize on what key points should be discussed during the next Conference of Parties (CoP27).

The CSOs are of the view that climate change impacts still need critical intervention and attention since vulnerable groups including women and children are facing challenges.

As Malawi continues to face climate change impacts, reports indicate that the country loses about 5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to climate change. In essence, the mounts reach to as far as MKW8. 8 billion (approximately €16.5 million).

National Coordinator for CISONECC, Julius Ng’oma, views that climate financing is the center of how Malawi can change is path in responding to the climate change situation.

“We have seen a lot of devastating impacts especially in the name of cyclones and floods which have been causing havoc for countries like Malawi, so we need financing for loss and damage,” explained Ng’oma.

He has further added that when countries are being supported in other means, Malawi needs support in accounting for loss and damage to measure how to respond to climate change impacts.

Director in the ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Taonga Mbale Luka, points out that the main focus for the government at the moment will be to ensure that climate change losses are accounted for at a time Africa in general is has the least capacity to adapt to impacts of climate change.

“The issue is that we are suffering loss and damage on climate change but we need to be able to account for those losses and damages so that we are able to provide data and evidence.

“As we are pushing for financing mechanisms at a global level, we should make our case in providing data and figures on how this is impacting us,” added Luka.

As Malawi looks at the need for accounting for losses and damages, more advocacy is also going towards capacity building for individuals who can help in organizing the data.