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Climate change threatens development

Nyasa Times

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has said the country risks serious development threats if climate change issues are not actively tackled and demanded urgent actions. 

The warning was made during the launch of UNDP Human Development report for 2007/2008 and The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe on Monday. 

"My government recognises that if actions are not taken to address the threats posed by climate change, there is the likelihood that we may lose the social and economical gains so far achieved. 

"A global consensus has now emerged that climate change is a real threat to development and poverty alleviation worldwide and sub-Saharan Africa," said Mutharika who kept his time at the function to less than tow and half hours as advised by his medical team.  

Malawi is more vulnerable to effects of climate change due to narrow economic opportunities largely based on agriculture with unforeseen disasters like the current floods and El Nino.  

"Droughts and floods have brought untold misery to various sectors of the economy, with drought causing poor crop yields and floods disrupting food production," the Malawi leader observed and appealed the citizenry to take part in the actions to avert climate change. 

The United Nations Development Programme resident coordinator Michael Keating said the climate change framework and adaptation plans need to be supported financially and pledged that Malawi donors will support the initiative in this country. 

"I am on the safe ground in saying that your development partners in Malawi are ready and willing to provide more resources to help Malawi to cope with climate change. 

“We want to support the development of the national framework, good plans, and capacity to implement them. And we recognize the importance of acting together in coordinated manner to support government leadership in this area,” said Keating.

Earlier on Mutharika sworn in his newly appointed Cabinet demanding loyalty and ptriotism to the Democratic Progressive Party led government and ideologies. 

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