Growing demand for fresh water in arid Namibia

According to Calle Schlettwein, Namibian Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, the demand for fresh water in Namibia is increasing and will continue to do so over the coming decades.

“If we mismatch water demand with available water resources, we risk disrupting the fresh-water cycle, depleting our resources and the chances of us meeting many sustainable development goals. These goals are aimed at alleviating poverty, improving public health, improving education, protection of the environment and ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation for all,” he said during a commemoration of World Wetlands and Water Day in March 2024.

Speaking at the event held in that country’s Kunene region, Schlettwein said climate change was causing disruption of the fresh-water cycle, bringing about severe negative consequences, including rising temperatures and rainfall variability.

“Namibia, with its erratic and arid climate, is vulnerable. We feel some of these consequences as we speak, with drought looming in most parts of the country.”

According to a World Bank report, Namibia’s reliance on rainfed agriculture and the increase in livestock production make it vulnerable to climate change. This limits the capacity of poor households and communities to manage climate risk, increasing their vulnerability to climate-related shocks.

It is stated in the report that climate change is expected to have significant impacts on key economic sectors and livelihoods in Namibia. Rising temperatures and increasing extreme heat conditions, uncertain and increasingly unpredictable rainfall and extreme weather are likely to induce new challenges and exacerbate existing ones.

“Epidemics of water- and vector-borne diseases may increase and previously eliminated diseases may re-emerge. Staple crop production will decline and rangelands will deteriorate, thereby affecting livestock production and rural livelihoods and incomes.

“Rising sea levels and warming are likely to affect fish stocks, coastal livelihoods, natural ecosystems, and tourist activity.

“All in all, the effects of climate change and variability could result in an annual decrease of 6,5% in GDP, thereby hindering economic development”, according to the authors of the report.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced that parts of Southern Africa were currently abnormally dry, including north-eastern Namibia, northern Botswana, much of Zimbabwe and central Mozambique. –