Churches want more action on climate adaptation
Malawi Church and Community Transformation Movement has asked government to enhance climate change adaptation measures at community levels to mitigate the impact of weather-induced shocks.
The churches made the call yesterday when Vice-President Michael Usi presided over the launch of the Southern Region chapter of the movement at Word Alive International Ministries Church in Blantyre.
Reading a petition addressed to President Lazarus Chakwera, the chapter’s chairperson the Reverend Zacc Kawalala said government should encourage mandatory woodlot ownership by institutions and facilitate the establishment of community forest reserves to protect natural resources.
He also asked Capital Hill to promote forest-based entrepreneurship such as honey production and to encourage the adoption of clean energy sources, which could reverse deforestation.
According to the African Institute for Development Policy (Afidep), only three percent of Malawi is forested in large part due to unsustainable land management and agricultural practices.
Between 1972 and 1990, Malawi lost over 40 percent of forest coverage and shed 15 percent of its forest and woodland habitat from 1990 to 2005, says Afidep.
The country’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change has also acknowledged that unsustainable use of charcoal and firewood is one of the major contributing factors.
Nearly every Malawian household, about 97 percent, relies on firewood or charcoal as their primary source of cooking and heating fuel as alternative fuel sources remain underdeveloped, according to Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change.
The deforestation and forest degradation driven by rising demand for charcoal and firewood has undermined agricultural productivity and food security, water security, and hydroelectric generating capacity—leaving the country more vulnerable to climate shocks.
Kawalala said government should take a strong role as stakeholders expect.
“We believe that the government’s commitment
to these recommendations will alleviate the hardships faced by the vulnerable members of society and contribute significantly to combat climate change and secure a sustainable future for all Malawians,” he said yesterday.
Usi, in his address, said the petitions inform action plans that government should follow to reverse the damage that has been done to the environment.
“Thank you for these petitions and they will be delivered to the President at the earliest possible opportunity,” he said.
The movement is a union of church organisations which have committed to working together with chiefs to meet the needs of their communities.
The launch was held under the theme ‘Voices of abundant life’ and started with a solidarity march from Church of Central Africa Presbyterian Blantyre Synod premises to Word Alive International Ministries next to Blantyre Market
