By Malumbo Chima
Charcoal burning is a major contributing factor to climate change in Zambia.
This problem is now becoming worse in Lundazi District as most of the areas in Lundazi district more especially in Senior ChiefMwase and Chief Kapichila’s areas have bear lands as a result of charcoal burning which leads to deforestation.
Charcoal is the most reliable source of energy for cooking for most of Lundazi residents and Zambians. Several areas inLundazi is not connected to the national electricity grid makingmost of the homes rely on charcoal as a major source of energyfor cooking.
The situation is becoming more rampant as most forest areas are cut to support this activity. In addition, the prices of charcoal are also another contributing factor that is persuading most people to engage in burning charcoal thereby contributing to the impact of climate
change such as dry spells, delay of rains and droughts and also poor crop yields which in turn affects the welfare and livelihood of children. This is because their right to survival and development is put at risk in times of hunger, floods and droughts of which children’s face the worst challenges in their lifetime.
It is also sad to note that charcoal prices are increasing in the district. For instance, the price for a 50kg bag of charcoal which was recently costing K70.00 just barely two months ago is now fetched at K150.00.
This is a worrying situation because this predicament willencourage other members of the community to venture in thisindustry as result the natural diversity and biodiversity of thenatural environment will no longer be in existence due to theattractive price of charcoal.
Furthermore, this will make future generations find themselves ina more disastrous and miserable society to live in such anenvironment without tree supporting various life activities suchas medicines, fruits and furniture products etc.
In order to stop this vice, people should realize that climatechange affect everyone in society which implies that allstakeholders and policymakers, need to join hands in protectingthe environment from the adverse effects. There is need to raiseawareness on the negative impacts of climate change andreporting cases of deforestation activities happening incommunities to ensure the special protection of tree species inthe district and the province at large.
From the above scenario, it is clear to say that the communityshould adopt new methods of energy use for cooking whichwould not contribute to the adverse effects of climate change.
Moreover, coming to light both the perpetrators of charcoalburning it is so interesting and touching to note the rise incharcoal prices in Lundazi, through the indiscriminate cuttingdown of trees. This also lowers the water levels at thehydroelectricity power stations which in turn contributes toelectricity load shedding. This that that the human communityhas failed both themselves and the natural environment as thereis no sustainable energy use to support human life interms ofCooking and industrial energy use.
For example, companies cut down trees to create industrial areasand industrial areas also requires electricity to run of whichcompanies by cutting down trees already caused a climate changeimpact which will reduce the water levels at the Hydro electricitypower generation station.
Communities should work together to find a more sustainableenergy use that would not contribute to the impact of climate change.
The community shouldadopt new methods
ofenergy use for cookingwhich would
notcontribute to the adverseeffects of
climate change
