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Zambian President Rings Alarm on Climate Change

Peter Clottey

   Thierry Kaore and Andrea Tadic contributed to this report.

   NEW YORK/WASHINGTON --Zambian President Edgar Lungu says climate change
   threatens to derail his country's economy, and disruptions to the rainy
   season have already dampened its outlook.

   "Climate change is the biggest problem that we're encountering now,"
   Lungu said in a one-on-one interview with VOA last week.

   "In terms of economic growth and whatever we want to do, we encounter
   the effects of climate change. So I think we need to take a serious
   look at it and see what solutions we can find amongst ourselves," he
   said.

   Economic woes

   Zambia's $25 billion economy, its industries and its population have
   all been growing, Lungu said, and demands for electricity have exceeded
   expectations.

   Meanwhile, the country has experienced more frequent and severe
   seasonal droughts, along with rising temperatures, according to the
   [1]United Nations Development Program.

   Economic output, including the country's ability to produce
   hydroelectric power, have suffered.

   In an address to parliament last month on the state of the nation,
   [2]Lungu slashed the forecast for economic growth from 4% to 2%,
   Reuters reported.

   "When you have this huge demand, coupled with the negative effects of
   climate change, the power plummets from, say, 100% production to 20%.
   How do you meet the demand? And I think that's where we are now," Lungu
   said.

   Seeking solutions

   Zambia hopes to minimize the impact of climate change by increasing its
   reliance on renewable energy.

   In March, Lungu inaugurated a 54-megawatt solar array. The World Bank
   Group and the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation financed the
   $60 million project.

   Lungu has committed to meeting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for
   Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including reducing emissions.

References

   1. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/
   2. https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFKCN1VY117-OZABS

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