Romaisa Hussain – Art in Tanzania Internship
Keywords: sustainability, climate change, environment, economic growth
Climate change has emerged as a potentially existential threat globally, posing a serious risk to human survival and sustainable development. Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed significant changes in weather patterns, largely attributed to global warming and human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Based on numerous lines of evidence, it is now more confident than ever that climate change is a threat multiplier that can amplify the effects of existing dangers. These threats include human security, scarcity of natural resources, environmental degradation, and poor economic growth.
The United Nations General Assembly established the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, which serve as a blueprint for achieving a sustainable future by 2030. The 13th Sustainable Development Goal, which addresses Climate Action, is part of this framework. The goal discusses the critical impact of climate change and encourages developing countries to move towards low-carbon emissions in the environment. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is a separate organisation working within the UN that deals with climate change and other environmental issues. The UN aims to promote low-carbon development, particularly in vulnerable regions, by contributing to climate action and sustainable natural resource management through collective action. Most states worldwide are affected by climate change, with East Africa being one of the regions most affected.
Tanzania is suffering the brunt of the consequences of climate change in East Africa. The agricultural-based economy of Tanzania has become vulnerable to the extreme climatic conditions. Most of the population is located in rural areas, which rely heavily on agriculture and farming, and are threatened by rising temperatures, droughts, and extreme rainfall. The country is home to the world’s most extensive river system, the Tanzanian. Despite having immense water resources, Tanzania struggles with a water shortage both spatially and temporally, which is exacerbated by the climate in its nine main river basins. In recent years, there has been a severe decline in the water levels of Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Jipe, as well as a decrease of approximately 7 kilometres in the water level of Lake Rukwa over the last fifty years. These are connected with climate change and are endangering socio-economic activities. The effect also puts the country’s hydropower system at risk. Furthermore, diseases such as diarrhoea and malaria remain one of the prime causes of casualties in the country, especially in the urban settlements consisting of poor infrastructure prone to flooding and increased temperatures.
Tanzania’s economy relies heavily on its natural and environmental resources, and many people depend on fisheries for their livelihoods, which are at risk from rising sea levels and freshwater temperatures. Tourism is another aspect that has the potential to boost Tanzania’s economy, as the country boasts a tropical climate and is home to diverse natural attractions, including wildlife, forests, beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes, and mineral resources. The attractions are abundant in national and marine parks, historical and cultural sites, and recreational sites. Tourism generates 17.5 per cent of GDP and 25 per cent of export revenues, making it an important economic sector. Due to the unpredictability of climate, it endangers the ecosystem services on which tourism relies. For example, the Serengeti National Park has been a renowned tourist destination for wildlife migration for decades, significantly contributing to Tanzania’s economy and serving as a key source of employment. There is a growing fear that the climate has shifted dramatically, potentially affecting wildlife tourism.
Threats to the sustainability of natural resources and environmental degradation remain a significant issue in Tanzania, including the premature harvesting and exploitation of natural resources, unsupervised cultivation processes, and trespassing on water sources. Collectively, these can seriously affect a country’s sustainable development goals. Due to unsustainable resource consumption, problems in producing sources may impact livelihoods. In addition, they can lead to a food deficiency, which could eventually lead to poverty. An increase in population and high reliance on agriculture can become somewhat burdensome on the environment and its natural resources, contributing negatively to climate change and water-stressed regions.
One leading contributing factor to environmental degradation is the unsustainable management of land and watersheds. Many challenges still need to be addressed to mitigate this issue, including the unexpected growth of human settlements, wildlife hunting, illegal farming and livestock activities, uncontrollable bushfires, weak inter-sectoral coordination, and inadequate stakeholder linkages. This may lead to the country’s social and economic development, as well as poverty reduction. The Tanzanian Government has identified water-oriented issues as a significant factor affecting the environment. This has led to the implementation of national policies and necessary plans and strategies to tackle it. The visibility of climate change in Tanzania has increased by 60%, as evidenced by a decrease in water sources, land degradation, and a reduction in agricultural land. The Government also tends to focus on carbon emissions, while protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, saving wildlife, and abolishing the hunting system as a means of income.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one among many partners of the Government of Tanzania that has aided in environmental development and contributed to measures regarding natural resources and climate change issues. The UNDP encourages the Government and respective communities to sustain the environment and contribute to the reversal of environmental degradation. As long as the correct policies are implemented, the chances of preserving ecosystems related to food, energy, and wood, i.e., timber, clean water, and a consistent climate, are possible. Over the past few years, Tanzania has recently experienced high growth rates of about 7.4%.
Climate change has significantly affected the incomes of the people in Tanzania. It has severely impacted the economy, agriculture, natural resources, and livelihoods of people, exposing the country’s vulnerable part. To say the least, the Government of Tanzania deserves respect for the progress it has made in developing and implementing policies and strategies to prevent degradation and protect the environment. The Government tends to cater to the country’s environmental needs and maintain its natural resources to support economic and social development. This would mean effectively establishing immediate measures to improve the damages caused. The Government also needs to ensure that efforts are being made to address environmental development and climate change in national and subnational plans.
References
Kijazi, A. L. (2019). The Contribution of the Global Framework for Climate Services Adaptation Programme in Africa (GFCS APA) in National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process for Tanzania. doi:10.4236/acs.2019.94040
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. (n.d.). Current and future challenges and opportunities in Tanzania. Retrieved from https://um.dk/en/danida-en/strategies%20and%20priorities/country-policies/tanzania/current-and-future-challenges-and-opportunities-in-tanzania/
Ordu, E. I. (2021, April 7). Climate adaptation and the great reset for Africa. Retrieved from Brookings: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/04/07/climate-adaptation-and-the-great-reset-for-africa/
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UNDP Annual Report 2020. (2020). Goal 13 CLIMATE ACTION. Retrieved from UNDP Organization: https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals#climate-action
United Nations. (n.d.). Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development. Retrieved from Sustainable Deevelopment Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA. (2007). NATIONAL ADAPTATION PROGRAMME OF ACTION (NAPA). Division of Environment.
USAID From the American People. (2020). Tanzania. Retrieved from climate links: https://www.climatelinks.org/countries/tanzania
