Carbon emissions in Malawi
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Villagers in southern Malawi
display their prototype cook-stoves.
Concern Universal (2014). Malawi cookstoves. Photograph. At:
Malawi: Irish Aid, [On Line] Accessed 28.11.2015. https://www.irishaid.ie/news-publications/news/newsarchive/2014/november/president-visits-cookstove-programme-malawi/.
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Reading through an issue of New
Scientist (21/11/15, issue number 3048) an article caught my attention. Titled; ‘Up
In Flames’, by Roger Harrabin, printed on page 26 - 27 of the magazine and
discussing Africa in relation to climate change.
The article is discussing Malawi and
how, as Harrabin describes it, “pledges to curb carbon emissions in parts of
Africa could falter given the hurdles ahead.” (Harrabin, 2015). He describes
how most electricity is derived from either solar power or hydropower. Which at face value seems very 'green'
indeed, however Harrabin goes on to explain that the country has one of the
highest levels of deforestation in the world.
These trees are then often used for fuel for cooking, this also leaves
exposed ground so along with less of our green leafed friends to take up CO2
from the atmosphere, the exposed ground also releases CO2.
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Deforestation, Mount Mulanje,
Malawi
Marie-Marthe Gagnon (2009). Deforestation, Mount Mulanje,
Malawi. Photograph. At: Mount Mulanje, Malawi: ©2008 Marie-Marthe,
[On Line] Accessed 28.11.2015. https://www.flickr.com/photos/marie-2008/3297447049/in/gallery-123430817@N08-72157644144360746/.
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The article also discusses issues of
exposed soil in relation to surface water run-off, and how this affects rivers
and aquifers as well the fact that surface water run off washes sediments into
water systems that can then block and damage hydropower stations. But this page is about CO2 and
global temperatures, so I’ll skim over that information. However it does come full circle to impact on
the CO2 emissions, as unrealisable hydropower supplies means power
black outs. The country are now
discussing the building of two new coal burning power stations to tackle this
power short fall, effectively increasing the CO2 output. However, in light of the upcoming COP21
summit in Paris the country is pledging to tackle deforestation, and introduce
effective stoves to the tune of 2 million by 2030 to reduce wood burning by
half.
Malawi are asking COP21 for assistance
with the stove scheme implementation and tree planting programs, but
unfortunately with an estimated population of 40 million by 2040 these stoves
could have little impact on reducing wood fuel use.
It may appear to a bystander that issues
of CO2 emission reductions and renewable energy sources at face
value seem simple to manage, sadly it is not as simple as installing a solar
panel and cutting down less trees. The growth
in population also must be considered in order to meet the needs of that
population and reduce the impact on the environment, it is an incredibly
complicated issues with no quick fixes.
Reference;
Harrabin, R (2015). Up In Flames. New
Science, 21st November 2015, p.26 - 27.
Its nice to see that Malawi want to tackle deforestation! It will be a difficult challenge but any funding they obtain through an agreement via COP21 could mean they could invest in cleaner energy. I read recently that North Korea (of all places) has 'waged war' on climate and planned to increase afforestation by serious amounts (can't remember the figure) which is clearly not possible for a nation is such a poor economical stance. I say this because do you think Malawi who are in a similar poor economic stance would really invest any money obtained through the COP21 agreement? Or do you think it will never filter down to programmes that matter?
ReplyDeleteI would like to think any money that was given by the COP21 agreement would be used for the purposes it was intended for, but if I am honest I am not familiar enough with the political situation there to really formulate any confident opinion. One would hope that COP21 funding would be monitored and administrated in such a way as to ensure that it was used for the intended purposes.
DeleteSo sad to see bare hillsides like that picture. As James said, it's great that Malawi is keen to tackle deforestation like this in future. Thankfully financial assistance was pledged at Paris for REDD+ schemes (I also looked at these in one of my blogs: http://hitchhikers-guide-to-geoengineering.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/great-green-sinks.html) so hopefully rebuilding Malawian forests will become a reality.
ReplyDeleteIt is heart breaking to see such photographs. As you and James both say, very encouraging to see that there is at least a keen intention to reduce deforestation. I thinks it is not going to be an easy task to find a balance between the growing population, quality of life and environmental improvements. It would be wonderful to see this become a reality.
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