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Namibia Climate Summit: Why Experts Warn Africa Faces Growing Disaster Risk

Namibia has launched a major climate summit bringing together international experts to address growing disaster risks across Africa. Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare warned that climate change is no longer theoretical but threatens everyday livelihoods and food security. The conference emphasizes community-driven approaches where locals actively participate in risk assessment and decision-making. Namibia's government has committed to reducing climate-vulnerable populations by nearly half through its National Development Plan by 2030.

Key Points: Namibia Hosts Africa Climate Change Summit With Global Experts

  • International experts gather in Windhoek for three-day climate conference series
  • Focus on community-based participatory research for risk assessment
  • Namibia aims to halve people in climate-vulnerable areas by 2030
  • Summit emphasizes investing in resilience rather than disaster response
  • Government prioritizes disaster management across all local authorities
  • Conference organized by South African and Namibian research councils
2 min read

Global experts convene in Namibia to tackle climate change, disaster risk

Namibia launches climate summit focusing on community-driven strategies to combat disaster risks across Africa, with PM warning climate change threatens livelihoods and food security.

"The realities of climate change, disaster risks continue to test the resilience of nations, communities, and ecosystems - Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare"

Windhoek, Oct. 29

Namibia on Wednesday launched a summit aimed at developing new, community-driven strategies to combat the escalating threats of climate change and disaster risks across Africa.

The three-day Climate Change and Futures in Africa Conference Series 2025, attended by international experts in climate change, disaster risk reduction, and policymakers, to share insights and explore innovative solutions, was officially opened in Windhoek by Namibian Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare, under the theme "Risk in Time and Space."

This year's edition placed special emphasis on community-based participatory research, an approach that empowers local communities to engage actively in risk assessment and decision-making, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In a keynote address, Ngurare warned that climate change is no longer a "theoretical or distant phenomenon," but an everyday reality threatening livelihoods, food security, and infrastructure across Africa.

"The realities of climate change, disaster risks continue to test the resilience of nations, communities, and ecosystems," he said.

According to Ngurare, Namibia is among the countries most severely affected by disasters, largely due to its arid climate and unpredictable rainfall patterns.

"Given the magnitude and consequences of disasters here, disaster management is a government priority for which every local authority and every region is expected to play their part," he said.

Ngurare outlined the government's commitment to climate resilience under the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). "One of the goals enshrined in our NDP6 is that we want to reduce the number of people residing in climate change effect-prone areas from the current 979,786 to 500,000 by 2030," he said.

He urged attendees to heed the call of this year's International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: "Fund Resilience, Not Disasters," stressing the importance of investing in research, science, technology, and innovation.

The summit is a joint initiative organised by the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa in collaboration with Namibia's National Commission on Research, Science and Technology.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see African nations taking leadership on climate issues. The "Fund Resilience, Not Disasters" approach makes so much sense. In India, we need similar focus on preventive measures rather than just disaster response.
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David E
While the intentions are good, I'm concerned about the implementation gap. Many such summits produce great recommendations but fail to translate into ground-level action. Hope Namibia can show us how it's done practically.
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Ananya R
Community-based participatory research is the way forward! 👏 In rural India, traditional knowledge combined with modern science can create amazing climate solutions. More countries should adopt this people-centric approach.
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Sarah B
The target to reduce people in climate-vulnerable areas from 979,786 to 500,000 by 2030 is ambitious but necessary. Similar planning is needed in coastal Indian cities facing sea-level rise threats.
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Vikram M
Climate change is indeed no longer theoretical. Here in Delhi, we're experiencing unprecedented heat and pollution levels. Global cooperation like this Namibia summit is crucial for sharing best practices and technologies.

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