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Tanyaradzwa Kutaura in PRETORIA, South Africa

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been urged to formulate a comprehensive strategy aimed at fostering collaboration in addressing the impacts of frequent climate-related natural disasters.

In an interview during the SADC science journalism training workshop, Professor Martiale Zebaze Kana, head of the science sector at UNESCO’s regional office for Southern Africa, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts in combating climate change.

“The first priority should be coordination, followed by collaboration. This can be achieved by developing national strategies focused on climate change,” said Prof Kana.

He highlighted three critical areas of action, which include developing national strategies to address climate change, promoting and investing in renewable energy technologies are essential for sustainable development, and implementing effective early warning systems across the region to mitigate the impacts of climate-related events.

Prof Kana also stressed the importance of establishing funding mechanisms to facilitate adaptation to climate change and ensuring that lessons learned can be replicated in other contexts.

“We must also make deliberate efforts to tap into international funding for climate financing,” he added.

The SADC science journalism training workshop, a precursor to the Science Forum South Africa 2024, has brought together journalists from Zimbabwe and other regional countries to enhance their understanding and reporting on climate change issues.

This training is timely, aligning with SADC member states’ commitment to integrated and sustainable development, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation.

This commitment is enshrined in the SADC Treaty and reflected in active participation in major multilateral environmental agreements.