What climatic issues is Eswatini facing?
Agriculture is the backbone of the economy in Eswatini, with livestock prevailing in the landlocked country of 1.3 million people. Climate change-induced dry spells and erratic rainfall patterns are affecting crop production in the country. Most farmers are dependent on rainfall for crop production and are therefore vulnerable to changes in rain patterns and reduced rainfall. Eswatini’s water and forestry sectors also face a number of challenges, with wetlands being drained for farms or roads, and pressure being placed on the environment through the clearing of indigenous forests due to the need of space for an increasing population.
Integrating local priorities for climate technology
Based on the recommendations from Eswatini’s TAPs for mitigation and adaptation, technologies of wetland protection, conservation agriculture, agroforestry and livestock selective breeding were integrated into the Eco-Lubombo Biosphere project under the auspices of UNESCO. As part of the Lubombo Biosphere project, Eswatini is implementing a National Wetland Policy, an agroforestry program to supply households with fruit and indigenous trees and free-range chickens as part of a Lubombo Eco-trails program.
Eswatini is currently preparing to package the different components of the Eco-Lubombo project under a Green Climate Fund proposal for further implementation of these actions. Eswatini also included its TNA results in its Green Climate Fund ‘country readiness report’, which contributed to the country being given a grant under the Green Climate readiness Fund. The country also built on its TNA in a successful application to the Africa Climate Fund for a project with a value of USD 1.35 million.
The TNA also provided input into the development of the country’s NDC report, and all the technologies prioritized by the TNA were included in the NDC.