Climate Change Concerns and the Poor in Zambia

Deforestation in Zambia is a household term that has become synonymous with the indiscriminate cutting of trees by the poor in their pursuit to produce charcoal and firewood and supply both to the cities. A ridiculously large number of households are still without an electric supply, which energy figures of the late 90s’ indicate that 52% household energy supply was attributed to firewood and charcoal. Still a large number of household in Zambia and many parts of Africa use charcoal for cooking in homes and low income restaurants.

The poor in underdeveloped developing countries cannot be absolved of their fair share they contribute in fuelling the global warming through their unchecked activities. For instance, forests in many of Zambia have been wantonly decimated at an incredibly fast rate, mostly by the poor’s desire to eke out a living by supplying firewood and charcoal to urban consumers. A mundane question is whether they should alone be blamed for the destruction of trees in the country or may be other key players like the government need to be factored into the equation. While the production of charcoal contributes to deforestation and hence green house gases, the scenario is all too intricate and lends itself to vicious circle which is viewed perhaps as a helpless situation. The majority have no formal schooling and cannot be employed in formal employment sectors and, at best, charcoal affords them the opportunity to earn something to sustain their livelihood. As for the consumers, the majority are in such a socio-economic grouping than can hardly afford to hook up to an electricity supply due to unexplained high upfront connection fees, let alone monthly service charges. Monthly electricity service charge in Zambia is even higher than in the US (US$49), despite the low production cost of US8.8 cents/kWh. In Zambia, a monthly electricity service charge is double that in the US.

The above scenario leaves the poor without a better income source alternative but too continue option but continue decimating the trees. Here is where government's indulgence must come with measures to ameliorate the situation with enforceable legislation. But where is the agency mandated to enforce environmental regulations?

In any case, the effects of global warming are already being felt and it is the poor that are apparently going to be adversely affected. African countries, including Zambia, have done too little to advance the measures aimed at mitigating the causes of global warming. Although Africa has engaged in climate change studies in the last 15 years, the findings from these studies have not been translated into practical projects to address causes of greenhouse gases and reduction of emission sources. African researchers involved in climate change studies are more focused on personal enrichment than finding implementable source reduction strategies.