First and foremost, I would like to take this opportunity to thank
the Almighty God for availing us good health to be able to attend this
important symposium. I understand that some of you have travelled from
different countries and therefore let me take this opportunity on the
behalf of the people of Zanzibar and Tanzania in general to welcome you
all to this spice and historical Island. Please feel at home. “Karibuni
sana.” My deep appreciation goes to the organizers for their
enthusiasm and giving me this privilege to officiate at the opening of
the first symposium of its kind.
I am told that the purpose of this three-day symposium is to present,
discuss, share experiences and mutually resolve on evolving approaches,
tools, methods and philosophies pertaining to impacts and
vulnerabilities caused by climate change with specific focus on small
island communities. As such, we in Zanzibar feel privileged to host
this symposium. Many, if not all the matters under discussion touch us
directly and our survival depends on them. The fact that you will
discuss the impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change,
gives us much hope and raise our spirit for survival.
Distinguished Participants,
Ever since the declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment in Stockholm in 1972 that defined the common principles to
the people of the world in the preservation and enhancement of human
environment, the challenges concerning environment and development have
become an almost insurmountable obstacle. Millions of people around the
world continue to live far below human levels required for their decent
existence. Population growth, food insecurity, challenges over shelter
and education, health and sanitation and industrial pollution have
continued to affect the pace of development in many countries.
Based on the challenges that we have been facing, it is very clear
that the road to our common future cannot be realized without having
common understanding and agreements in reaching agreed fundamental goals
of environment protection, peace, economic and social equity, for the
worldwide development.
Distinguished Participants,
The Rio Conference of 1992 established the implementation of the
principles of sustainable development under Agenda 21. Central to this
concept of development was the environmental and social justice with
respect to the use of resources which included fair access to all
without compromising the options of future generations. The
interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars of sustainable
development are economic development, social development and
environmental protection.
Today, when we look into the scope of sustainable development, we
have to ask ourselves how far we have succeeded in optimizing these
three pillars of economy, society and environment. The current state of
environment concerning our atmosphere, water, natural resources and
biodiversity is not so promising; the application of science and
technology for productive economic outputs continues to be an expensive
tool beyond the reach of poor nations; and the fundamental rights to
education, adequate standard of living, food security, health, labour
and shelter – all these pose a fundamental question on how far or close
we are from achieving the desired goal of sustainable development.
Distinguished Participants,
The world has just completed another round of talks in Durban concerning
whether or not to continue with the Kyoto Protocol of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. For some, the Protocol
may just be another round of endless negotiations in the Multilateral
Environment Agreements, but for many people around the world, and
especially those who live in the small island developing states, this
race is about our own human survival.
No countries are more susceptible to the effects and impacts of
climate change than small island states. In many cases, these islands
share unique biophysical characteristics, the urgency of these small
nations coming together under one strong voice has never been more
clearer. Small Island Communities are very vulnerable to climate change
and have limited capacity to respond to the impacts caused by
environment disasters. The problems we face such as rising sea level,
failing monsoons, food insecurity, recurring droughts, depleted
fisheries and the increased coastal erosion have been unbearable.
As a matter of fact, since 2003 East Africa has had the eight warmed
years on record which in no doubt have contributed to the famine that
now afflicts 13 million people in the Horn of Africa. The UN
Environment Programme’s just published report, “Bridging the Emission
Gap” shows that over the course of this century, warming will likely
rise to four degrees.
Distinguished Participants,
It is not yet certain what exact impacts will these factors contribute
to the economy and livelihoods of our people, but at least what we know
for sure is that the coastal dynamics of our shorelines have already
begun to be affected. With land becoming a scarce commodity under the
forces of beach erosion, and the recorded cases of salt water intrusion
in all the districts of the islands of Unguja and Pemba becoming
conspicuous, the hazards of coastal flooding have already been rated
very high in six out of ten districts of the islands of Zanzibar.
Nowhere is that risk extremely high than on the western coastal fringes
of the main island of Zanzibar where population density in some areas
reach more than 2000 people per square kilometer. The risk is extremely
high in some coastal fringes of the main island of Zanzibar. In
addition, we have seen graves been inundated by salt water and arable
land being made hopelessly useless.
Our limited capacity to measure accurately the projected impacts on
our ecosystems and economy warrants an immediate and urgent plea for
technical support in developing a reliable system of climate change
models specific to the small island states with high resolution and
level of accuracy. This could improve our early environmental and
climate change warning system and be able to save lives and avoid
environmental disasters and collapse of our small economies which are
dependant on the oceans and forests.
It is high time for Governments and international organizations to do
whatever they can to mitigate the impacts of climate change. In our
case, my Government has already established Steering and Technical
Climate Change Committees and the process of developing the Zanzibar
Climate Change Strategy has begun. Moreover, the Revolutionary
Government of Zanzibar with the support of development partners such as
the Government of Finland (through Sustainable Management of Lands and
Environment project) has already prepared a road map towards its
national adaptation goal.
To strengthen our commitment towards implementation of the climate
change adaptation programs in Zanzibar, my Government is also working on
the African Adaptation Program (AAP) for provision of clean water
supply to the communities of the northern locality of Nungwi whose water
sources have been affected by salt water intrusion. These initiatives
are being carried out under UNDP Project which is supported by the
Government of Japan.
Distinguished Participants,
It is true that international efforts are under way to allocate enough
resources to deal with adaptation and mitigation interventions, but this
is not always enough. Debates are ongoing about the mechanism of the
climate funding and how to allocate funds meant for Reduced Emissions
for Deforestation and Degradation projects in poor countries. The Kyoto
Protocol was supposed to help small countries under the Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, but statistics show that only a
handful of countries are expected to generate 80% of the total CDM
credits by 2012, leaving the vast majority of small states in greater
environment and climate change uncertainty.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has tried
to come up with alternative programmes under the National Adaptation
Programme of Action (NAPA) and more recently, the piloting of Reduced
Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), but it is far from
certain as to whether these interventions could by themselves be the
viable solutions to our rapidly changing climate.
The community of nations must accept the fact that climate change is a
global problem. It needs universal support to confront it. Let me
quote Nobel-Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mrs. Mary Robinson, a
former President of Ireland and currently President of the Mary Robinson
Foundation, who jointly declared in a statement to the Durban
conference supporting the assertion I have just made. They said, If
countries are not confident that others are addressing it (the problem)
they will not feel an imperative to act themselves.”
They added: “Climate change is a matter of justice. The richest
countries caused the problem but it is the world’s poorest who are
already suffering from its effects.”
Distinguished Participants,
At this juncture, let me again join the calls that propose for the
setting up of the new global mechanism within the United Nations that
will provide the necessary support to environment, climate change and
sustainable development issues for small island states around the world.
This new mechanism will facilitate in mainstreaming sustainable
development issues for green economy in development planning, allocation
of financial resources specific to small island states – and dedicated
towards the climate funding.
The proposed mechanism will support the provision of appropriate
technologies which are affordable and cost effective specific for
addressing climate change impacts for small island communities;
facilitate exchange and sharing of experiences and which will also
assist in capacity building and capabilities of all small island
developing states. We need to develop practicable means of dealing with
the changes. We need to restore forests, encourage communities to
change their mode of earning a living away from charcoal burning;
collecting and use of rain water and developing better breed of seeds
that can withstand the climate change, especially drought.
Distinguished Guests,
I believe that the upcoming Rio +20 conference that will take place next
year will be a golden opportunity for the small island states and
should be the delivery point for the new framework on integrated
approach to address the problems facing our communities pertaining to
environment, climate change and sustainable development. This will help
to address the development needs of small island states while promoting
a transition to green, low emission and climate resilient development
and growth.
Failure to act now would give the small island communities less time
to adapt to the impacts of climate change and the consequences would be
more costly especially if mitigation efforts and adaptation measures are
postponed through lack of finance, technology or human skills. We must
act now for our common future. It is said that if climate change is
expensive, failure to act universally against is even costlier. Our
efforts towards poverty reduction will be curtailed and held back.
I pledge that my Government will continue to work together with all
friends and partners at the national, regional and international level
to ensure the long-term goal of sustainable development as we are
heading for the age of the Green Economy.
Let me conclude by wishing you a very fruitful and successful
programme and I believe that you will also spare some time in your busy
schedules to enjoy the exotic sites and sandy beaches of our islands,
taste its delicious cuisines, smell the fragrance of its spices,
appreciate the cultural diversity of its people and become our cultural
ambassadors overseas. KARIBUNI ZANZIBAR and feel at home among brothers
and sisters.
I am now pleased and honoured to declare the “First International
Symposium on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in
Small Island Developing States; implications to poverty reduction” is
officially opened.
Thank you and wish you good luck
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