Namibia, despite contributing less than 0.03% to global greenhouse gas emissions, is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts. This unequal exposure is manifesting in increasingly severe environmental stressors such as prolonged droughts, land degradation, diminished water availability, extreme heat events, and erratic rainfall patterns. These phenomena, once considered rare, have become persistent realities that directly and adversely affect the livelihoods of communities across the country.

Research shows that Namibia is one of the driest countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with rainfall ranging from just 25mm to 700mm annually. The country’s dependency on natural resources, such as rain-fed farming, biodiversity, and marine fisheries, makes it particularly susceptible to environmental shocks. According to recent reports by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism,1 2 3climate change poses a profound threat to Namibia’s key sectors: 

• Water Availability: Namibia’s surface water resources are projected to decline significantly due to increased evaporation and reduced recharge. Groundwater recharge could drop by 30–70% under worst-case scenarios, especially in the Cuvelai Basin and eastern Kalahari. The Kunene River flow may decline by up to 25%, placing pressure on hydropower at Ruacana, agricultural irrigation, and rural drinking water systems.
• Agriculture: The sector, employing over 70% of the rural population, is highly vulnerable. Cereal production is projected to decline by 10–20% by 2050 under current trends, while long-term agricultural productivity could drop by up to 50% due to increased drought frequency, soil degradation, and pest outbreaks.
• Coastal Areas: Sea-level rise and ocean warming are intensifying coastal erosion, salinisation of freshwater systems, and threatening infrastructure. Fisheries are affected by shifting stocks and ocean acidification, reducing food security and export income.
• Biodiversity: Namibia’s eco-tourism and conservation-based GDP contributors are increasingly threatened by rising temperatures and prolonged droughts. Species migration and habitat shifts are leading to the collapse of sensitive ecosystems like the savannah and coastal wetlands.
• Public Health: Health systems are already burdened by rising cases of malaria, cholera, and heat-related illnesses. Projected increases in heatwave days and flood events will exacerbate disease outbreaks and malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable populations.
• Infrastructure and Energy: Prolonged droughts and heatwaves are reducing electricity generation from hydroelectric plants such as Ruacana, while floods threaten roads and urban infrastructure. Increased reliance on diesel imports for power generation elevates economic vulnerability (Government of Namibia, 2024). 

Namibia’s youth are especially affected through disrupted education, worsening health, and shrinking employment opportunities in climate-sensitive sectors, but also represent a critical force for climate resilience and innovation. 

Gender Inequality and Climate Change 

The climate crisis intensifies existing gender inequalities, disproportionately affecting women and girls, particularly in developing countries such as Namibia. As primary caregivers and providers of food, water, and energy at the household level, women are more vulnerable to climate-induced stresses like droughts, floods, and declining agricultural productivity. In Namibia, climate change exacerbates the burden on women in rural areas who must travel longer distances to access water and firewood due to environmental degradation. Furthermore, food insecurity and loss of livelihoods, especially in agriculture and informal sectors where women are overrepresented, reduce women's economic resilience. Climate-related disasters also increase the risk of gender-based violence and disrupt access to essential health services, including reproductive healthcare. These compounded vulnerabilities hinder women’s participation in education, decision-making, and climate governance. Addressing these gendered impacts requires climate policies that are inclusive, gender-responsive, and that actively empower women as agents of resilience and transformation. 

Public Discourse and the Media's Role 

Despite the growing frequency and intensity of climate-related challenges, public discourse on climate change in Namibia remains limited. It is seldom prioritised in mainstream media narratives, political debates, or national policy dialogues. This gap raises a critical question: why does climate change, despite its profound consequences, remain marginal in public consciousness? 

The Fifth National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) outlines several key climate-induced risks for Namibia, including reduced agricultural output, biodiversity loss, freshwater scarcity, and heightened food insecurity. These stressors contribute to rural-urban migration, exacerbate socio-economic inequalities, and threaten long-term national development objectives. 

Nevertheless, the prevailing perception of climate change in Namibia is often shaped by its technical framing, rendering it abstract and disconnected from the lived experiences of most citizens. As a result, the urgency of the issue is diluted, and opportunities for informed public engagement are diminished. 

The Need for Effective Climate Communication 

Given the evidence, the omission of climate change from national discourse is no longer acceptable. A shift is urgently needed towards naming, framing, and addressing climate change not merely as an environmental concern, but as a defining development challenge. Elevating the conversation is imperative to safeguard the country’s ecosystems, livelihoods, and future resilience. 

While others are planning for climate resilience, we are still trying to survive the next failed harvest. Yet, while environmental statistics accumulate in policy documents, the issue of climate change remains marginal in everyday conversations. Droughts are discussed but rarely linked to climate change. Crop failure is reported but seldom framed as part of a larger pattern. There is a communication gap that weakens public awareness, limits citizen engagement, and hampers the urgency needed for coordinated action. 

This silence is more than a coverage gap; it represents a missed opportunity. Effective climate communication does more than relay facts; it humanises data, contextualises trends, and makes abstract threats tangible. Stories of farmers losing cattle, communities moving to higher ground, or young people campaigning for environmental justice are not just anecdotes; they are entry points for national dialogue. 

Media Training and the Role of Journalists 

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), in partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and key development partners, hosted a hybrid series of workshops and validation meetings from 27–31 March 2025 to strengthen Namibia’s environmental and climate action frameworks. The sessions focused on validating key strategies, including the Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) and the third National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 3) and building the capacity of finance officials, youth, journalists, and gender stakeholders.   

The media training conducted on 27 March 2025 wasn’t just another workshop. It was a wake-up call. A recognition that the battle for climate justice cannot be won without an informed and engaged public, and that begins with an empowered media. 

The media training was not merely a lecture; it was a dialogue, a space where government, media, and development actors jointly explored the following themes: 

• The impact of climate change on sustainable development
• Namibia’s climate strategies, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
• The media’s role in shaping public opinion, policies, and political will
• Supporting climate journalism that informs, educates, and holds power accountable 

Journalists and media professionals from across the country gathered to gain specialised skills in climate change communication, understanding the science, decoding the policy language, and most importantly, humanising the crisis. 

The goal? To shift the narrative. To go beyond the statistics and tell the stories of real people affected by climate change. To make the invisible visible. Because when climate stories are told well, they stir hearts, change minds, and mobilise action. UNDP collaborates with various stakeholders, including government of Namibia, development partners, the private sector, and communities, to enhance resilience and implement sustainable solutions. Our projects include supporting the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), promoting renewable energy, and investing in nature-based solutions and green hydrogen technologies.