Swaziland: Government steps up knowledge sharing on climate change
'You can now know the weather in Swaziland by dialling 4045655', announced the Minister for Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Macford Sibandze during the launch of the new weather equipment and nationwide campaign on climate change.
The launch of the nationwide campaign on climate change comes at a time where the country is feeling the effects of climate change in all sectors which has a negative impact on the country’s achievement of MDGs. This is not only an agricultural problem because of the shortage of rain and dryness which leads to hunger but also for health because with the erratic weather conditions there are diseases that breakout like cholera when there is too much rain and malaria with the hot temperatures and many other sectors are also affected.
Through assistance from UNDP the Meteorology Department has been equipped with new weather equipment and because climate change is affecting all sectors including development it is important that the whole country is part of climate change awareness.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Neil Boyer did not only highlight the effects of climate change especially on vulnerable groups in society like women but also alluded t the fact that climate change is an important issue for everyone.
He noted that women particularly those in rural areas will be affected differently than men, partly because in most communities they make up the larger share of the agricultural work force and partly because they tend to have access to fewer income-earning opportunities. Women manage households and care for family members, which often limits their mobility and increases their vulnerability to sudden weather-related natural disasters. Drought and erratic rainfall force women to work harder to secure food, water and energy for their homes. Girls drop out of school to help their mothers with these tasks. This cycle of deprivation, poverty and inequality undermines the social capital needed to deal effectively with climate change.
Minister Macford Sibandze alluded to the fact that climate change was affecting every sector and that we should all be part of the solution.