Following the participation of Eswatini at the Glasgow climate change conference (COP-26) in November, today stakeholders met to share the follow-up action for the Kingdom. UNDP supported the participation of Eswatini delegates at COP 26.

Ahead of COP 26, Eswatini submitted its revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) following a process supported by the UNDP Global Climate Promise Initiative (GCPI). Eswatini is one of the 119 countries supported under the UNDP GCPI in collaboration with other development partners.

Participants at the follow-up workshop held on 11 May 2022, which is facilitated by a trainer from the UNDP Bureau for Africa, are drawn from different sectors including the government, private sector and civil society organizations.

Speaking at the official opening of the workshop where the Glasgow Climate Pact was unpacked, UNDP Resident Representative, Rose Ssebatindira, said climate action and development are interconnecting issues. She was represented by the Acting Head of the Environment Portfolio, Lindiwe Dlamini. Ssebatindira added that it is important for the country to ensure that its development plan integrates climate change.

“UNDP is currently supporting the development of the NDC implementation plan. This is happening at a time when we are rolling out the new Country Programme (2021-2025) which allows us to come up with more development projects that take into account climate action,” said Ssebatindira.

The Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Hon. Moses Vilakati, highlighted the importance of doubling efforts in accelerating climate action and not considering climate change as only a challenge but also as an opportunity.

“We can be certain about one thing COP 26 represented the most significant multilateral progress on climate change since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 in Paris,” said Hon. Vilakati, adding: “Parties left Glasgow with clarity on the urgency of enhancing ambition on the action; mitigation, adaptation, and finance.”

He said it was time for Eswatini to turn the commitments made in the NDC and the Adaptation Communication into action.