Japan and Malawi cooperate on climate change mitigation

The Japanese Government has donated around US$370,000 to Malawi in the form of disaster response and relief equipment. Malawi, situated in South-East Africa and bordering Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique,  will use the equipment to improve it's capabilities in coping with natural disasters caused by climate change.

The donation follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2010 between the government's of Japan and Malawi which targets climate change mitigation initiatives.

Speaking at a ceremony in Lilongwe, Charge D’ Affairs at the Embassy of Japan, Shigenobu Kobayashi, said the programme aimed at sharing Japanese technology, techniques and experience in the field of disaster prevention and water supply management.

He said there had been reports recently of flooding and dry spells that had caused the loss of crops and property in Malawi and around the world, resulting in food insecurity and poverty.

The donated equipment included three water bowsers, mobile treatment plants, one dozer, an excavator, a wheel loader, one pad foot roller, two dump trucks, one low bed truck, three generators, one set drilling rig and accessories, two sets high air compressors, four flat lorries, and spare parts.

The machines are also expected to enhance access to clean water for Malawians.

Speaking on behalf of the Malawi Government when he received the donation, Minister of Water Development and Irrigation, Ritchie Muheya thanked Japan for the donation.

He said the equipment assist government of Malawi in its effort to mitigating water-related disasters and providing relief to those affected by natural disasters.

He said that as one way of dealing with the effects of climate change, there was need to construct infrastructure that would help in adapting to the effects of floods and droughts which Malawi experiences every year.

The Government of Japan is also helping address the climate change issue through an on-going US$350,000 forest preservation programme and another project for the introduction of Clean Energy by Solar Electricity Generation System at the Kamuzu International Airport worth US$470,000.

More than US$2 million has also been disbursed by the Government of Japan through initiatives to address impacts of climate change in the country.