ASSESSEMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS
EXCERPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS IN ZAMBIA PAPER @2020
Prepared by Abaleya Carpooling Limited
INTRODUCTION
Scientific proof indicates that the planet is getting warmer. This warming has given rise to the increase of the Earth’s average temperature, glaciers melting; sea levels are rising, weather patterns are changing and extreme weather events, such as draughts, floods and storms are increasing (Climate change Junior farmer and life school-facilitator’s guide,2014). This is happening due to Greenhouse Gases (GHG) that include carbon dioxide (CO2), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), Hydro fluorocarbons (HFC), nitrous oxide (NO2) and methane (CH4) that are emitted into the atmosphere. These gases trap the heat that would naturally escape from the Earth. The GHG are significantly due to anthropogenic activities [man made] than natural processes. Mankind is responsible for over 90 percent of the increase in GHG in the atmosphere over the last 150 years and the greatest source of anthropogenic GHG emission is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation.
Climate change being a global phenomenon has global effects and Zambia has had the greatest record blow ever in its history especially to the energy and agriculture sectors and consequently its economic activities in the past half-decade, were poor precipitation was recorded across the nation that massively affected the production of electricity of which 82 percent is hydro based. Relatively the agricultural sector was affected due to poor rains in some regions and flooding in others, in addition to this a high infestation of agricultural pests such as armyworms that posed a threat to the food security and the livelihood of millions of Zambians.
EFFECTS
Zambia being a developing country is vulnerable to climate change effects because of the fewer resources to adapt socially, technologically and financially. The rising temperatures have caused a shift in the precipitation pattern leading to changes in crop growing seasons, which have affected food security and changes in the distribution of disease vectors putting more people at risk from climate sensitive diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, malaria and tuberculosis.
The poor rainfall that has been persistent since 2015 has reduced the water levels at major hydropower sources by over 50 percent; this has had an impact on Zambia’s electricity supply due to that fact that 82 percent of the nation’s electrical energy supply is hydro based. This has had a cascading effect on the deforestation rate because fire wood and charcoal is now being predominately used as an alternative source of energy in both Urban and rural areas.
Between 2018 to 2019 some parts of the Country were hit by drought spells which has extremely depleted the water resources in the Southern and Western province that recorded their lowest seasonal rainfall totals since 1981, this has led to increased water shortages. Simultaneously some parts of the country experienced heavy rainfall leading to flash and riverine floorings’ that damaged infrastructure ranging from schools, Clinics, markets, bridges, roads and houses.
Biodiversity was not spared leaving thousands of fish species, plants and animals perishing due to droughts and floods. Some existing species of plants and animals are unable to adapt because they are not sufficiently mobile to migrate at the rate required for survival.
ASSESSING EFFECTS OF CIMATE CHANGE IN ZAMBIA
This climate change effects assessment covers research and investigation purposed to reveal current and future climate change effects on human activities and nature. Since the effects are conjectural, only certain locations and scenarios will be considered for extrapolation and postulation.
The capability to assess the effects of climate change makes it easier to plan adaptation measures and adapt effectively, and the gathering of information creates the foundation of assessing these effects in Zambia. This information includes data collection, systematic observation and monitoring. In line with data collection, climate data such as temperature, precipitation, heat waves and the frequency of extreme events needs to be gathered. Non climatic data must be collected too; this includes the up-to-date situation of water resources, energy, agriculture and food security, human health, terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.