Samia highlights costs of combating environmental degradation
President Samia Suluhu Hassan leads East African Community (EAC) heads of state and government in arriving for the bloc’s 25th anniversary celebrations held on Friday, November 29, 2024, at the Arusha-based headquarters. In her speech, she said Tanzania spends over five percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually to combat environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change. PHOTO|COURTERSY
What you need to know:
- In 2023, Tanzania's GDP reached $79.14 billion, with projections that it will grow to $80.43 billion by the end of 2024.
Arusha. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has revealed that Tanzania spends over five percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually to combat environmental degradation and the impacts of climate change.
In 2023, Tanzania's GDP reached $79.14 billion, with projections that it will grow to $80.43 billion by the end of 2024.
The President shared that the country loses more than 400,000 hectares of forest annually, primarily due to reliance on unsustainable cooking energy sources such as firewood and charcoal.
The government has introduced a policy requiring each district to plant 1.5 million trees annually to address this scourge.
The initiative aims to restore natural vegetation, conserve the environment, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
However, President Hassan emphasised that the government would not achieve these goals alone and instead, she called on the private sector and local communities to collaborate in environmental conservation efforts.
She made the remarks on Friday, November 29, 2024, in Arusha City during the 24th East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit that brought together regional leaders to review the bloc’s progress, challenges, and economic strategies.
During the session, EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva had sought to know about Tanzania's success in promoting clean energy and environmental conservation.
In her response, President Hassan highlighted the government's commitment to improving the lives of women who are adversely impacted by harmful cooking practices while creating job opportunities for the youth.
"In addition to tree planting to restore forests, we have prioritised access to electricity in all 12,300 villages across the country," she said.
"Reliable electricity access will not only alleviate health issues caused by unsustainable energy sources like firewood and, but also create employment opportunities for young people who previously migrated to cities in search of jobs," added President Hassan.
The Head of State noted that more than 50 percent of Tanzania's electricity is generated from natural gas, with the remainder sourced from hydropower and solar energy.
The government is now focusing on expanding energy production through wind sources starting with the Singida Region.
"This is part of our broader strategy to meet Tanzania's energy needs while ensuring 80 percent of the population has access to clean energy by 2034," she remarked.
The President urged her fellow EAC leaders to support regional initiatives to combat the impacts of climate change, ensuring food security, boosting economies, and protecting public health.
"As a woman, I am determined to fight for clean energy because it disproportionately affects women, leading to deaths from respiratory illnesses. Men also suffer, but often due to smoking. I urge my colleagues to join me in implementing these plans in their countries and across the region," she said.
She also underscored the financial challenges in achieving these goals, pointing out the insufficient support from developed nations.
"We have attended their summits, but their contributions have fallen short. Even at the recent COP-19 summit, the funds pledged were inadequate. We must take charge and address these issues ourselves," emphasized President Hassan.
Additionally, the President encouraged her EAC counterparts to collaborate with the private sector to improve environmental conservation and promote clean energy through research, expertise, and financial support.
"For instance, Tanzania will host the African Energy Summit in January 2025, bringing together energy stakeholders, financial institutions, and experts. Let us use this opportunity to pave the way forward," she said.
The EAC boss, Ms Nduva, praised Tanzania's campaigns and initiatives as exemplary for the entire region. The summit, held as part of the EAC's 25th anniversary celebrations, also discussed the succession of the EAC chairmanship, currently being held by South Sudan's President Salva Kiir.
Apart from President Hassan and the bloc chairperson Kiir, others in attendance were Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Kenya's William Ruto, and their counterparts from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda.
