Dr. Ali Mohammed Shein
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.