TIRI MASAWI
Namibia needs about N$224 billion – approximately US$ 14.07 billion to deal with the effect of climate change in future.
Speaking at the launch of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0 ) on Friday, Minister of Environment , Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel told industry experts that in total Namibia needs N$9.84 billion ( US$ 6.42 billion) for mitigation and N$122.4 billion (US$ 7.65 billion) for adaptation.
“ Approximately 12 percent is unconditional, while 88 percent is conditional upon international climate finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support. But let me emphasise: Conditional does not mean optional. It means Namibia has identified what more can be achieved when international support matches our national ambition.,” she said
She said Namibia’s task now is to move beyond talking about climate finance to mobilising climate finance.
“We must transform our priorities into credible programmes and bankable projects. We must strengthen our national institutions, attract domestic and international investment and ensure that financing reaches the communities and sectors where climate impacts are actually being felt. Namibia is also entering an important phase of natural-resource and energy development.The emergence of oil and gas prospects does not remove our climate responsibilities,” she said.
The NDC 3.0 is a comprehensive climate blueprint extending targets to 2035. It features 72 mitigation and adaptation measures across 13 sectors, prioritizing green industrialization, low-carbon energy, and community resilience. Reflecting high ambition, 88% of its implementation is conditional on external international climate financing.
Daniel said the NDC 3.0 was developed through a collaborative process involving Government institutions, regional and local authorities, the private sector, civil society, academia, farmers, communities and traditional authorities.
“Namibia has raised its ambition. By 2035, NDC 3.0 identifies 26 mitigation measures and 106 actions across energy; agriculture, forestry and other land use; industrial processes; and waste. At the same time, adaptation remains central to our national response,” she said.
She said Namibia, as one of the driest countries in the world already experience drought, water scarcity, floods, extreme heat and land degradation.
“For us, therefore, adaptation is not simply an environmental issue it is a development imperative.NDC 3.0 identifies nine adaptation priority areas, comprising 46 measures and 110 actions, covering agriculture and food security, water resources, biodiversity, fisheries, health, infrastructure, coastal zones, urban settlements and broader resilience. But these numbers will mean very little if they remain on paper,” she said.
She said Namibia needs an approach that is responsible and pragmatic in dealing with climate change.
“Where petroleum development proceeds, it must comply with Namibia’s environmental and petroleum laws, while promoting cleaner technologies, operational efficiency,methane management, robust monitoring and transparent emissions reporting,” she said.
She said Namibia must continue accelerating renewable energy, green hydrogen, energy efficiency and low-carbon industrialisation.
“We should not place development and climate action on opposing sides. Our responsibility is to ensure that our natural resources support national prosperity while Namibia progressively builds a diversified, resilient and lower-carbon economy,” she said
She said the NDC Implementation Strategy and Action Plan must translate commitments into clear responsibilities, timelines, financing requirements and
measurable results.
“Every responsible Ministry and institution must integrate its NDC commitments into its plans, budgets, programmes and investment pipelines. Climate action cannot remain the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism alone. Finance, energy, agriculture, fisheries, water, health, transport, urban development, gender and social protection, together with our regional and local authorities all have responsibilities under this NDC,” she said.
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