President Duma Boko has warned of the growing threat posed by El Niño, calling for urgent investment in climate preparedness to protect Botswana’s food security, water resources and livelihoods.
Speaking at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, Boko said while natural climate phenomena cannot be controlled, their impact can be mitigated through proactive planning, investment in resilience and decisive climate action.
He noted that Botswana is already grappling with severe droughts, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and mounting pressure on water resources, with significant implications for agricultural productivity, public health and biodiversity.
Boko stressed that strengthening national preparedness must remain a priority, particularly through climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, renewable energy, improved energy efficiency and climate-smart development.
Meanwhile, Botswana is expected to launch its comprehensive National Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Strategy and Implementation Framework next month.
The framework will focus on strengthening institutions, improving environmental data management and reporting, promoting sustainable finance and guiding green investment.
The President said building climate resilience is essential to safeguarding communities and securing the country’s future
