Maputo, May 26, 2025 (Lusa) - The president of Mozambique, Daniel Chapo, called on Monday for "coordinated, intelligent and united action" from politicians and experts to address the consequences of climate change, particularly in his country. He also asked for joint action from the CPLP.
"Recent data on climate change indicates that our country is among the ten most vulnerable in the world to extreme climate impacts. This reality requires coordinated, intelligent and supportive action, not only at the political level, but essentially at the level of experts in our community," said the head of state at the 11th Congress on Coastal Zone Planning and Management in Portuguese-language Countries.
Speaking at the opening of the event in Maputo, which is being held simultaneously with the 16th Symposium on Hydraulics and Water Resources, Chapo asked the technicians present, namely from Portugal, Brazil, Cabo Verde, and Mozambicans, to "share experiences, solutions implemented, and innovations studied".
He highlighted that Mozambique has increased the advance warning time for extreme events, which in 2016 was one day and has now been extended to six days, "which has significantly reduced the associated impacts, with particular emphasis on preventing loss of human life" in the country.
"Investments are being made in flood defence and retention infrastructure, early warning systems, land use planning and other initiatives that contribute to a significant reduction in the loss of human life and property and increased productivity in various economic and social sectors," he added.
He added that the "frequent cyclicality and intensity of extreme events" in Mozambique in recent years imposes "the need to adopt various disaster management strategies, such as strengthening the institutional role of the National Institute for Disaster Management," "strengthening flood early warning systems" through the "One District, One Weather Station" initiative, the creation of a dedicated unit for flood and drought control, the revitalisation of local disaster management and risk reduction committees, "as well as nationwide mapping of flood risk areas".
The Mozambican President also said that the National Development Strategy 2025-2044, recently approved by parliament, sets "clear goals" in this area, such as increasing water storage capacity from 59.1 to 61.7 million cubic metres, raising access to drinking water to 70% and sanitation to 68%, strengthening integrated water resource management and protecting areas vulnerable to coastal erosion and salinisation.
Daniel Chapo called for the Maputo meeting to "be a moment to design solutions", not only for "common challenges", but also taking into account the value and respect for ecosystems, contributing to the strengthening of local communities, which "are most vulnerable to the climate effects resulting from climate change".
"It is the expectation of the government of Mozambique and Mozambican society, and certainly of the entire CPLP [Community of Portuguese Language Countries], that the knowledge shared here will contribute to boosting the sustainable development of the water sector in our countries, as well as making them more adapted to this new reality without borders," Chapo said.
He stressed that the two events starting today are also "privileged spaces for strengthening ties, consolidating partnerships and opening new channels of cooperation".
"Our ability to act together will be decisive in overcoming the barriers to integrated and sustainable water resource management and universal access to drinking water and sanitation, thereby contributing to the well-being of our populations.
He acknowledged that " it is therefore imperative to strengthen regional strategies within our CPLP and dialogue with the countries with the highest carbon emissions, which, according to international commitments, have an increased responsibility for climate mitigation and adaptation. "
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