Abstract:
Tanzania National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) preparation has been a
timely opportunity to look at the country’s climate change related vulnerabilities in
various sectors which are important for the economy. Tanzania NAPA document is
informed by the aspirations of National Development Vision 2025 for high and shared
growth, quality livelihood, peace, stability and unity, good governance, high quality
education and global competitiveness. Since Tanzania’s economy is largely dependent on
agriculture, it is deemed that sustainable development can be achieved when strategic
actions, both short term and long term are put in place to address climate change impacts
on agriculture and other key economic sectors. The process of NAPA preparation
involved looking at the effects of climate change as a threat mainly to the agrarian
population that still depends on subsistence agriculture for their daily livelihood. The past
trend on droughts and floods; and recent poor harvest in 2005 which caused hunger in
most parts of the country and disappearance of the ice cap at Mount Kilimanjaro is now
more than ever imminent evidence of climate change due to evident temperature
increases caused by global warming. The frequency of extreme weather events such as El
Nino floods in 1997/98 and the recent drought are few but important reminders of the
deadly effects of climate change to Tanzania. In this context, the Tanzania NAPA
identifies priority areas in various sectors, and further prioritizes project activities in
those sectors. These activities need immediate and urgent actions for the country to adapt
to such climate change effects on a short term basis as well as putting in place
mechanisms for addressing long-term adaptation initiatives.
