As Namibia joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Environment Day, deputy environmental commissioner Caroline Garus-Oas says nature offers some of the most effective solutions to climate change.
This year’s World Environment Day is observed under the theme ‘Inspired by Nature for Climate and Our Future’.
Garus-Oas says protecting natural ecosystems such as forests, rivers, oceans and wetlands is critical in addressing the climate crisis.
“The world needs to understand that we need to look at nature to find possible interventions against climate change,” she says.
She explains that trees help regulate temperatures by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing carbon in their roots.
Garus-Oas says forests are not the only natural systems that help reduce greenhouse gases. Rivers, oceans and algae also absorb carbon dioxide and help maintain environmental balance.
“Algae are microorganisms that absorb carbon dioxide. If we continue changing the acidity of water bodies, we reduce their ability to perform this important function,” she says.
She also points out the importance of sustainable cities through climate-smart buildings, solar energy and green spaces.
“We can learn from nature when designing our cities. Planting trees, creating greener spaces and using renewable energy are all part of nature-based solutions,” she says.
Namibia is a signatory to several international environmental agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, which commit countries to taking action against climate change.
Environment and tourism minister Indileni Daniel also calls for stronger action to address environmental challenges.
“The continuous threat to people and the environment by climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and land degradation must strengthen our collective response,” she says.
Daniel says nature already provides many of the solutions needed to address these challenges.
“Every citizen, community, institution and business has a role to play. The choices we make today will determine the Namibia we leave behind for future generations,” she says.
United Nations (UN) secretary general António Guterres says the warning signs of climate change are becoming harder to ignore, with the past 11 years recorded as the hottest on record.
He says environmental degradation affects more than temperatures, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, food security and human health.
“The damage goes far beyond rising temperatures – from polluted air to degraded land, collapsing ecosystems and vanishing biodiversity,” Guterres says.
According to him, the world is on track to temporarily exceed the 1.5°C global warming limit set under the Paris Agreement.
He warns that every fraction of a degree of warming increases risks, especially for vulnerable communities already experiencing climate-related impacts.
“Our task is to make that overshoot as small, short, and safe as possible and rapidly bring temperatures back down,” he says.
Guterres calls for a rapid reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
He says renewable energy remains the most sustainable way to lower energy costs and strengthen energy security.
He urges developed countries to honour climate finance commitments made to developing nations.
Guterres stresses that climate finance is essential to help countries adapt to climate change, protect livelihoods, strengthen economies and save lives.
World Environment Day is observed annually today and serves as a platform for promoting awareness and action on environmental issues.
This year, countries are expected to advance environmental discussions at the UN Climate Change Conference in Türkiye, the UN Biodiversity Conference in Armenia and the UN Desertification Conference in Mongolia.
