By Kemo Kanyi
The Gambia Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow has challenged every Gambian to take the lead in the fight to mitigate climate change adversaries.
VP Jallow who was honoured by the Gambia Red Cross Society’s climates resilience project made this statement during his address at the occasion held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba JawaraInternational Conference Centre, Bijilo on Friday 9 August 2024.
In his address, His Excellency Mohammad B.S. Jallow tasked Gambians to take up the challenge against climate change as the launched project is a beacon of hope to renew the fight against climate change.
“This project, Scaling up Locally-led Adaptation and Transforming Humanitarian Response to Climate Change,” is not just another initiative; it is a lifeline, a beacon of hope in our relentless fight against the devastating impacts of climate change,” VP Jallow described.
H.E. Jallow admitted that the country continues to feel the adversities of climate change in strategic areas, and livelihoods are threatened by its effects.
“Climate change is real. It is not a distant threat but a present and pressing reality. The Gambia, our beloved nation, is feeling its impacts more acutely than ever before. Rising sea levels threaten our coastal communities, unpredictable weather patterns jeopardize our agricultural productivity, and extreme weather events like floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and severe,” H.E. Jallow outlined while addressing the delegates at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
He added that these changes are not just affecting our environment; they are disrupting our way of life, our economy, and our very future.
“As we launch this project, I call upon every Gambian to take action. Climate change adaptation is not the responsibility of a few; it is the duty of all,” he put up the challenge.
He acknowledged the adverse effects of climate change on the farming communities, hence the need for collaboration.
“Our people are on the frontlines of this crisis. Farmers who have tilled the land for generations are now struggling with unpredictable rains and failing crops. Fisherfolk, who have depended on the bounty of our rivers and oceans, face dwindling catches, and the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater systems. Families across the country are witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods, health, and security,” the Vice President transmitted.
VP Jallow said his government is committed to putting up mitigating measures to address the issue, together with the general public.
In his statement, he stated “The government of The Gambia recognizes the gravity of this situation. We are committed to taking decisive action to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to build resilience within our communities. However, government action alone is not enough. We need the collective effort of every Gambian, every community, every sector, to rise to this challenge.”
He, therefore, assured that the government would continue to provide the necessary support and will ensure that the national development plans are aligned with climate resilience and sustainability goals.
“By placing the power in the hands of local communities, we ensure that our responses are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of each area,” he added.
Honourable Rohey John Manjang, the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources said the project presents a critical step forward in the government’s efforts to combat climate change and build a more resilient Gambia.
She said the country is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical location. Therefore, it’s important to adhere to climate change mitigating measures.
“Adaptation measures are crucial to adapt to minimise the harm caused to our people, the ecosystem, and the economy because The Gambia is very vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical location,” she said.
