Countrywide assessment on climate change effects underway- Govt

DODOMA: THE government has said that a team of experts in the President’s Office (Union and Environment) in collaboration with sectorial departments have embarked on a countrywide assessment on the effects of climate change.

Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office (Union and Environment) Dr Selemani Jafo informed the National Assembly on Wednesday when responding to a supplementary question by Mtambwe MP (ACT) Khalifa Mohamed Issa.

The legislator   said that Unguja and Pemba islands have been affected by climate change causing some of the residential areas to be submerged.

In his question the MP said that the islands have been affected by climate change causing some of the areas to be submerged.

He wanted to know when will the government conduct a survey and come up with short and long measures to address the situation.

Responding Dr Jafo said the government has started the  construction of a wall  in the area adding that a team of experts  in collaboration with  sectorial departments  has been dispatched  to conduct assessment countrywide.

“The work is in progress we will present in the National Assembly areas which need to be worked upon on the two sides of the union to ensure safety of our country,” he said.

Dr Jafo added that the impact of climate change are huge and need collaboration with other stakeholders to counter the situation.

In her basic question Special Seats MP, Mariam Kisangi (CCM) wanted to know whether the government has put in place any strategy to fight climate change.

Responding, Deputy Minister, of the docket Khamis Hamza Khamis, said that the Union government has prepared and implement various strategies to fight climate change.

He named the strategies as the National Climate Change Response Strategy 2021- 2026 and National Environment Implementation Strategy 2022-2032

On Zanzibar side he said, the isles government has set up its strategy on climate change 2014-2030

“These plans generally explained the challenges and   various measures to be observed in the fight against climate change in the country,” he said.

He added that in addition to the existing strategy, the government has continued with various campaigns to encourage citizens to fight climate change    such as tree planting, innovation, research and development of technologies related to the fight against climate change.