By Abbas Nazil
Namibia, one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is turning to innovation, renewable energy, and climate-smart agriculture to confront the growing challenges of climate change, including severe droughts, desertification, and food insecurity.
With annual rainfall ranging between just 25 millimetres and 700 mm, the country experiences frequent dry spells that have disrupted agricultural productivity and threatened livelihoods dependent on rain-fed farming, fisheries, and biodiversity.
In response, the Namibian government has implemented a range of national policies, strategies, and community-based projects to address both climate adaptation and mitigation.
Efforts include the promotion of drought-resistant crops, rotational grazing, agroforestry, water harvesting, and renewable energy deployment.
Namibia has also pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 91 per cent by 2030 and is actively mobilising international climate finance and boosting public awareness through media outreach.
Sion Shifa, a senior official in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, said climate change threatens to reverse development gains and puts key sectors such as water, agriculture, energy, biodiversity, tourism, and infrastructure at risk.
He stressed that the combination of prolonged droughts and creeping desertification is reshaping landscapes and endangering rural livelihoods.
The country’s climate response began in 2001 with the formation of a multi-sectoral National Committee on Climate Change.
This was followed by the 2011 National Policy on Climate Change and the 2013–2030 National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, which integrate climate considerations into national planning.
On the ground, community members are being trained in sustainable practices such as drip irrigation, rainwater collection, and the use of organic fertilisers.
Farmers are adopting hardy crops like sweet potatoes, beetroots, carrots, and peppers while promoting biodiversity and soil conservation.
Shetuuka Shetuuka, leader of the Olushandja Horticulture Producers Association, said that local innovation is improving food production and resilience, with households establishing gardens and embracing sustainable methods.
To fund these efforts, Namibia’s Environmental Investment Fund, accredited to the Green Climate Fund, has raised more than N\$460 million for adaptation projects.
However, experts like Axel Rothauge have warned that traditional coping methods are becoming obsolete, urging for increased rotational grazing and restoration of rangelands through the planting of indigenous trees.
Namibia is also part of global and regional restoration efforts, including the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the Great Green Wall Initiative, and AFRI100.
In terms of mitigation, the country is supporting low-carbon development through solar and wind energy investments.
The National Policy on Renewable Energy supports clean energy expansion, especially in rural areas, through off-grid and mini-grid solutions.
In 2023, Namibia launched a National Carbon Market Framework to regulate carbon trading and attract further climate finance.
To enhance climate awareness, the government has engaged the media through training programmes, encouraging accurate and consistent reporting on climate issues.
The combination of policy, innovation, and grassroots action highlights Namibia’s commitment to resilience in the face of climate change.
As the climate crisis intensifies, Namibia’s multi-pronged approach positions it as a model for adaptation and low-carbon development in arid regions.