Malawi hails timely African symposium on climate change loss and damage

Malawi-The first-ever African Regional Symposium on Loss and Damage, organized by the Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) in collaboration with the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), is underway at the Bingu wa Mutharika International Conference Centre (BICC) in Malawi, writes Memory Phoso.

The three-day symposium, which began on April 3 and will end on April 5, is aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change in Africa.

During the launch, Malawi's Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Michael Usi, emphasized the need for justice and compensation when designing research on climate change issues.

He urged African countries to collaborate on quantitative research to address the issues of loss and damage on the continent.

"When we earmark on quality, it is very difficult to transact in business," Usi said.

Julius Ng'oma, the CISONECC National Coordinator, highlighted that the symposium follows the past conference on loss and damage, considering the gaps.

\He believes the symposium will help address those gaps in issues related to loss and damage.

Dr. Augustine Njamnshi, Chairperson of the Political and Technical Committee for the PACJA Board, said the symposium is unique, timely, and well-informed considering how the continent has been affected by the effects of climate change.

Njamnshi believes the meeting will help mobilize African voices in climate negotiations with global north countries.

Representatives from Malawi and Kenya shared their experiences of loss and damage during the symposium.

Salante Kayole from the Maasi community of MPIDO Kenya – an indigenous people's organization – said there is an increase in early marriages among young girls in Kenya due to poverty.

Kayole said the Maasai community has been hit hard by a drought that has led to the death of cattle, and most families have separated while trying to find solutions to the challenges they are facing. Kayole called for support from Kenya's government to address the challenges.

The symposium's theme is "Consolidating Evidence and African Voices for the Advancement of a Pan-African and Damage Agenda at All Levels."

The symposium has brought together different environmental activists from across the continent.