Malawi awarded on climate change

This story can not go without comments from people who are so concerned with the strategies we are putting in place as Malawians on climate change. The recognition by the world body on steps taken by our counry on climate change just shows how committed as Malawians both government and individuals we are to fight this war on climate change.

It is not true to say tha Malawi does not cotribute to green house gases, but its only affected by the developed countries. As log as we are building dual carriage Masauko Chipembere Highways, then we are in the same wagon of producing green house gas by our cars traveling on those roads, let alone the high taste of 4 X 4 s by our cooporate and elite society.

I recommend the government for tracking the disposed of HCFCs refrigerators and giving a figure of remaining 15 % to deal with the problem. This just shows we are in control.

Read on the good news..

Hastings
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Read the story as reported BY CHARLES MPAKA 11:39:06 on 29 September 2007.

The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out of ozone depleting substances, has awarded Malawi for its strides in controlling the concentration of the gases in the country. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Khumbo Chirwa announced this Thursday in an interview.Chirwa, who had just returned from a conference on climate change in Montreal, Canada, said the meeting recognised Malawi, alongside Nigeria and Mauritius, for its efforts in reducing levels of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methyl bromide and other substances.

HCFCs, which are used in refrigerators and air conditioners, are said to be 10,000 times more potent to greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide, and therefore contribute immensely to global warming. According to Chirwa, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has played a part in checking levels of the substance in the country through inspection of refrigerators and related equipment being smuggled into the country.

The minister said Malawi had so far reduced about 85 percent of the levels of the substances. The Montreal Protocol previously suggested complete phase out of HCFCs by 2030 but according to Chirwa, the deadline was not realistic considering large volumes of the substances being used in industrialised countries. “On our part, we still have to fight off the remaining 15 percent.

We are getting there but we need to accelerate our efforts. Various stakeholders have worked together for this achievement but we need to involve communities more,” Chirwa said. In 2006, Malawi developed the National Adaptation Programme of Action (Napa), a plan intended to identify priority activities that respond to her urgent and immediate needs with regard to adaptation to climate change.

The plan highlights the need to involve rural communities in vulnerable areas of the country. Sam Kamoto, Programme Manager for Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (Wesm) said Malawi was being heavily impacted upon by greenhouse gases from industrialised countries, despite itself not contributing towards global warming.

The environmentalist said a coordinated and enhanced participation of local communities and civil society would help a great deal in tackling issues of climate change. Malawi was the first country in the world to phase out methyl bromide, another ozone depleting substance, in 2004.

The Montreal Protocol had recommended the phase out of the substance in developing countries by 2015. Malawi was then the second largest user of the chemical after Zimbabwe because of the tobacco industry, a major forex earner for both countries.