Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lesotho Times
Published on 2024-03-05 09:25:22
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning that 2024 is likely to be one of the hottest years on record as the effects of climate change continue to intensify and the global temperature rises. The prediction is based on the scorching hot weather experienced in 2023, during which every month broke the world record for warm temperatures.
In a recent statement, WMO Secretary General Celest Saulo highlighted the shift from cooling La Nina to warming El Nino in the middle of 2023 as a significant factor contributing to the rise in temperatures. She stated that as El Nino typically has the most significant impact on global temperatures after it peaks, 2024 could potentially be even hotter.
Saulo emphasized the importance of countries taking urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. She pointed out that higher temperatures are exacerbating various types of disasters, such as storms, heatwaves, floods, and droughts.
The impact of climate change is expected to worsen existing environmental stresses in Lesotho, including drought, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity, which could undermine sustainable development efforts. The country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) strategy highlights the vulnerability of Lesotho to the negative effects of climate variability on water and food security, health, human settlements, and the energy sector.
Key focus areas of Lesotho’s NDC strategy include environmental sustainability, water resources, sustainable land management, agriculture, energy, and health sectors. With its small size and rugged terrain, Lesotho is exposed to climatological patterns from both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, resulting in significant temperature variability.
The Lesotho Meteorological Service (LMS) Country Chief Analyst on Climate Change, Theletsa Mpholle, confirmed the WMO assessment, stating that Lesotho is also experiencing the impacts of rising temperatures. He noted extreme climate patterns in the country, with extremely cold winters followed by scorching hot summers in recent years.
Mpholle highlighted the interconnected nature of climate change, mentioning that heavy floods in other parts of the world can have repercussions in Lesotho due to shared atmospheric conditions. The effects of climate change were evident in Lesotho in 2023, as the country experienced snow at unusual times, affecting agriculture and biodiversity.
Saulo emphasized that the climate crisis is exacerbating existing inequalities and affecting all aspects of sustainable development, hindering efforts to address poverty, hunger, ill-health, displacement, and environmental degradation. The impact of intense rainfall, floods, and tropical cyclones has led to significant destruction, loss of life, and economic damage globally.
As the world faces the escalating effects of climate change, urgent action is needed to mitigate its impacts and transition towards a more sustainable and resilient future. Countries must work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to changing weather patterns, and protect vulnerable communities from the consequences of a warming planet.
Read the original article on Lesotho Times
