Eswatini, a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, faces significant challenges due to climate change.
The impact of climate change on Eswatini includes more frequent droughts, unpredictable rainfall, and increasing temperatures, which threaten the country’s agriculture, water resources, and overall well-being of its citizens.
Eswatini’s climate is characterized by hot, wet summers and cold, dry winters. These changing climate patterns affect food security and the health of the population, particularly children and youth.
According to UNICEF Eswatini, understanding these impacts is crucial for developing strategies to protect vulnerable groups.
Efforts are being made to address these issues through national climate action plans, such as those outlined by the United Nations.
By committing to globally-recognized agreements and collaborating with various stakeholders, Eswatini aims to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
How Has Climate Change Impacted Eswatini
Climate change has significantly affected various sectors in Eswatini, leading to broad and serious consequences for the region.
Water and Agriculture
Extreme weather events have disrupted water supplies across the country. Prolonged droughts and sudden floods have been a major cause of these disruptions.
Agriculture, which heavily depends on consistent rainfall, has experienced reduced crop yields and increased food insecurity. The worst affected areas include the Lowveld and Lubombo regions.
Health
Rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns have led to the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria. These health issues strain both medical resources and community resilience.
Biodiversity and Ecosystems
The biodiversity of Eswatini is under threat. Unique ecosystems are facing the risk of collapse due to changing climatic conditions.
The mean annual rainfall has become unpredictable, affecting flora and fauna, and leading to the loss of habitats in regions like the Highveld.
Livelihoods and Infrastructure
Frequent natural disasters, such as forest fires and violent storms, disrupt daily life and damage infrastructure. This hampers economic activities and contributes to lower GDP growth rates.
Adaptation Strategies
Efforts to mitigate climate change include disaster risk reduction and implementing sustainable farming practices.
Eswatini’s National Climate Action Plan, aligned with the Paris Agreement, aims to address these challenges by focusing on key areas such as renewable energy and water conservation.
How Is Eswatini Going To Be Impacted By Future Climate Change
Eswatini faces multiple challenges due to climate change.
Rising temperatures will threaten agriculture and renewable energy.
Changes in the seasonal cycle will impact crop yields and access to water.
Droughts will become more frequent and severe, putting strain on water resources.
This affects both urban and rural communities, increasing competition for water and negatively impacting health.
Forestry in Eswatini is also vulnerable.
Increased CO2 levels and temperature changes will harm trees and reduce forest productivity.
This can lead to less biomass availability, critical for household energy.
Efforts under the Paris Agreement and the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) focus on adaptation.
The revised NDC includes measures for agriculture, water, and renewable energy development.
Eswatini aims to integrate more solar and wind energy into its electricity mix.
This can help reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels and combat the effects of climate change on the local energy supply.
Financial support is crucial for these initiatives.
The implementation of Eswatini’s NDC will cost about USD 1.3 billion by 2030.
This funding will aid in increasing resilience against climate impacts.
Climate change exacerbates poverty by disrupting livelihoods, especially for the country’s poorest populations who rely on natural resources.
Effective adaptation strategies can help achieve development goals and improve living conditions.
Eswatini is also part of the Climate Promise Initiative, which supports countries in meeting their climate pledges.
Addressing waste management and promoting sustainable practices are critical components of these efforts.