BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba MASUKU has made a presentation on the importance of natural capital to Africa’s financial sector, associated risks and opportunities at the Africa Climate Summit.
The DPM has shared with African leaders at the Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, on Eswatini’s efforts in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change.
He said Eswatini was blessed with enormous natural resources.
He mentioned that Eswatini launched its implementation plan for the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to achieve the adaptation and mitigation strategies in the document submitted to the UNFCCC in October 2021.
The NDC, also known as the national climate action plan, is an instrument for implementing the Paris Agreement, to which Eswatini became a signatory in 2016.
“It will cost Eswatini USD1.3 Billion to implement its NDC between now and 2030. It covers 12 areas; agriculture, health, water, ecosystems and biodiversity, infrastructure, energy, waste, industry, forestry, gender, youth and disaster risk reduction,” said the DPM.
Masuku acknowledged the translation of the NDCs to Braille and siSwatini as of great importance as they continue to strive towards leaving no one behind.
He said launching the implementation plan is a milestone urging development partners to support the NDC, which he described as very ambitious although Eswatini’s emissions are minimal compared to the global contribution of greenhouse gas emissions.
