IMELDA AMBONDO
President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwahsays Namibia urgently needs N$270 billion (USD 15 billion) to meet its climate goals.
She addressed other world leaders who gathered for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last week.
Calling for stronger global partnerships to unlock the financing required for resilience, food security and a just energy transition.
“Namibia needs approximately USD15.0 billion to meet her climate goals,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwa said 90% of the country’s adaptation costs depend on international support.
With most Namibians relying on agriculture and water supplies already under severe strain, she announced plans to consolidate all climate-related efforts into a single, high-priority national programme.
This programme will combine integrated water resource management, groundwater recharge, drought-resilient agriculture and climate-smart irrigation.
The President warned that the cost of disasters is rising while international support is declining. “More and more urgent concrete actions are needed in the next five years,” she said.
She urged the G20 to scale up investment, technology transfer and predictable finance.
She added that climate action and food system reforms must be “transformative,” emphasising Namibia’s efforts to reduce food imports, expand irrigation and revitalise the Green Scheme. Quoting the Founding President, she said: “A nation that cannot feed itself will never be respected.”
On energy transition, she highlighted Namibia’s ambition to become a global hub for green hydrogen, green ammonia and sustainable fuels.
“Our goal is to build a full, investable ecosystem,” she said, urging G20 countries to view Namibia as a strategic partner in global decarbonisation.
She concluded by seeking support for Namibia’s bid to host one of Africa’s Regional Hubs of the Green Climate Fund, saying the country has “the political will, transparent governance, and a proven track record” but needs partnerships that match the scale of its climate challenges.
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