The African Development Bank (AfDB) report rates Botswana as among countries with the highest climate resilience with a score of 70.2.
The report highlights how the country enjoys many strengths and opportunities that it can unlock to leverage its potential to manage climate change but it simultaneously faces a number of challenges.
“On one hand, having contributed only 0.02 percent to the global greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, Botswana is disproportionately affected by rainfall and temperature variabilities, given its semi-arid climate. Its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture combined with water scarcity is a threat to food security, nature-driven tourism, and livelihoods. On the other hand, it has several renewable energy resources and a strong commitment to climate change, “it states.
The report observes that the University of Notre Dame’s 2020 Global Adaptation Initiative country index, which considers both vulnerability and preparedness of countries, ranked Botswana 89th out of 182 countries with a score of 48.3. While for vulnerability the country is ranked the 66th with a 46.6 score, and held the 86th most climate change-ready country position with 43.3 score.
For Botswana to transform from upper-middle income country to high come status by 2036, the report hints; high economic and inclusive growth –of about six percent- is a key ingredient to achieve this vision.
“To achieve and sustain this growth, there is need to address the effects of climate change, ensure sustainable use of environmental resources, and close the income inequality gaps. This need forms the basis for green growth for the country,” reads the report, adding that as far back as 2011, Botswana was already exploring the green economy concept against its basic principles of sustainable development, and defining what this would mean to the country.
Referring to the country’s climate change policy document, the AfDB report discusses that Botswana has committed to reducing its Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions by 15 percent by 2030, with 2010 as the base year.
“Achieving this intention requires a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change that involves investments in climate change adaptation, addressing losses and damages from climate change, investment in natural resources management and in reducing social inequalities. Botswana’s low emissions present the country with the opportunity to quickly transition to green growth while advancing on its climate commitments.”
The country, it emphasizes, is endowed with natural capital that can support its transition to green growth.
Botswana’s climate change policy document is further hailed by the same report; “Botswana estimated that it would need about US$ 18.4 billion to achieve the 15 percent GHG. The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity generation over the past 20 years covering renewable energy technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, Coal Bed Methane (CBM), concentrated solar thermal, and batteries for energy storage.”
The IRP was revised in 2022 to capture related initiatives including the Biogas Pilot Project, the off Grid Solar Program, and the roof top solar photovoltaic, amounting to 135 Megawattts (MW). The IRP aims to derive 30 percent of energy mix from renewable sources by 2030, and 50 percent by 2036. In April 2021 a Memorandum of Intent was signed for the Mega Solar initiative as a partnership among Botswana Namibia, Power Africa and the World Bank group to harness solar energy for domestic and regional power needs.
The country has also strengthened its climate investment resources mobilisation through the 2021 Green Climate Fund (GCF) program on energy, clean technology, and natural capital. Support to improve national institutional capacities to scale up climate investments will be core to achieving the country’s climate finance targets. Dialogue wise with development partners, the Bank is a member of the Botswana Development Partners Coordination Forum (BDPCF).
