The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) says climate change has affected Lake Kariba which has resulted in ever-decreasing water levels.
Speaking at the launch of the Lake Kariba Inshore Fisheries Management Plan in Kariba, sub-regional coordinator for Southern Africa, Patrice Talla, said;
Climate change has affected Lake Kariba and its environs as envisaged by fluctuating lake water levels that have affected electricity availability.
Fisheries have also been affected by the changes. Research conducted in Lake Kariba has shown that increasing temperatures affect fisheries productivity and the fluctuating lake water levels affect the actual fishing activities by fishery-dependent communities.
Although we face these and many other challenges, this launch event meeting has presented an opportunity for key fisheries stakeholders to meet.
Enhancing the sustainability of small-scale fisheries of Lake Kariba is necessary for improving fisheries management and also improving the availability of fish for food security and economic growth.
Lake Kariba provides water for electricity generation to both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
There are two power stations drawing water from the Lake, that is, Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station with an installed capacity of 1 050MW and Kariba North Hydroelectric Power Station with an installed capacity of 1 080MW.
According to the UN, climate change is caused by the following:
- Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels causes a large chunk of global emissions.
- Manufacturing and industry which produce emissions, mostly from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making things like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and other goods.
- Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures
- Transportation is a major contributor of greenhouse gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions.
- Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases in various ways.
- Powering buildings, both residential and commercial buildings which consume over half of all electricity.
- Excessive consumption
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