The Southern African Development Community Climate Services Centre (SADC-CSC) has achieved significant milestones towards being recognised as a World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) designated Regional Climate Centre (RCC).
WMO RCCs are centres of excellence whose mandate is to provide climate services for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS). The Provision of climate information services supports individuals, communities and governments in preparedness and adaptation to climate change-induced disasters.
In the recent past, climate change has threatened Southern African development, slowing down the achievement of goals and objectives of the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.
According to the World Food Programme 2022 annual country report for Mozambique, tropical cyclones took a heavy toll on Mozambique, displacing over 736,000 people from their homes in the 2021/ 2022 rainy season. These cyclones caused extensive damage to crops, water, housing and energy infrastructure. It resulted in the loss of life and family assets, increased food insecurity, diseases, and severely disrupted livelihoods.
Moving forward to 2023, the Southern Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) faced its own climate-related catastrophe. World Vision reported that massive flooding and mudslides claimed the lives of over 443 people while over 5000 were missing. More than 4,653 households were affected, displacing over 107,000 people.
Meanwhile, Angola grapples with its most severe drought emergency in nearly four decades, directly linked to climate change. An estimated average of 1.9 million people in Angola face drought annually. Furthermore, about 50% of the nation's livestock is exposed to these harsh conditions and dying from diseases. This figure could rise to almost 70% under projected climate scenarios.
These examples represent just a fraction of climate change's profound impact on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The region faces an existential threat as climate change triggers droughts, floods, cyclones, water scarcity, and damages to housing, road and energy infrastructure, crops, and livestock. These challenges result in the displacement of communities, food insecurity, loss of life, health crises, and potential security threats.
Compounding the issue is the region's heavy reliance on agriculture, making SADC exceptionally vulnerable to climate-induced fluctuations in rainfall and temperature. With limited adaptive capacity, SADC becomes increasingly susceptible to the harsh impacts of climate change.
Appreciating the gravity of the situation and the need for action, SADC has committed to making climate change adaptation a cornerstone of its regional development goals. This endeavour uses science-based climate information to build resilience and promote sustainable livelihoods. Critical to this effort are investments in climate monitoring and information services, essential tools for addressing climate challenges and empowering individuals, communities, and governments to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
One such initiative, the SADC Intra-ACP (African Caribbean, Pacific) Climate Services and Related Applications Programme (ClimSA) exemplifies the region's commitment to climate resilience. SADC-ClimSA supports SADC member states in adapting to climate change and variability by providing science-based climate prediction and information services for national and regional planning processes. This will ensure timely provision of climate information and support to water, food, energy and health sectors.
The program aims to strengthen science-based climate prediction and services' production, availability, delivery, and application. This aligns with the SADC Climate Services Centre's goal of enhancing the quality and quantity of climate services and early warning systems available to climate-sensitive sectors in SADC member states. Ultimately, SADC-ClimSA aspires to increase knowledge and information services and engage with users in member states to ensure that they are able to use these services to better prepare for and adapt to climate-induced challenges.
One of the key activities in the programme is to support SADC-CSC to reach at least a demonstration phase for becoming a WMO-designated Regional Climate Centre (RCC). In order for a climate service centre to be designated as a WMO RCC, it should perform various set activities. These include long-range forecasts, climate monitoring, operational data services to support operational long-range forecasts and climate monitoring and provide training in the use of regional climate centre products and services.
Beneficiaries of SADC-CSC products and services include national meteorological and hydrological services (NMHS), regional sectors such as water, energy, health, and infrastructure, as well as the media and various units and departments within the SADC Secretariat.
With support from the SADC ClimSA programme, the SADC-CSC has made significant milestones in achieving this.
SADC-CSC has commenced climate monitoring and generation of seasonal forecasts. Seasonal forecasts were presented to the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF), the African Continental Climate Outlook Forum (ACCOF) and the Regional Interagency Standing Committee (RIASCO). Climate monitoring products for five days, ten days, and monthly are generated and posted on the SADC-CSC website.
SADC-CSC operates an internal climate database containing mostly Global Telecommunication System (GTS) sourced station data and satellite datasets for operational data services to support operational long-term forecasting and climate monitoring,
The Centre continues to train SADC member states on tools and processes to improve their climate services provided at the national level. They are also trained in how to use the Common Alert Protocol implementing web portal designed for SADC member states to which they contribute national hydrometeorological hazard information.
The SADC-ClimSA programme is ledby the SADC Climate Services Centre. It operates in collaboration with partners such as the European Union (EU), the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The SADC-ClimSA programme is funded by the European Union, under the Intra ACP Cooperation of the 11th European Development Fund. The programme is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.
The SADC-ClimSA program closely aligns with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020 goals, its successive plan, RISDP 2020-2030, and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan in the meteorology sector. Furthermore, it is rooted in the World Meteorological Organization's Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
In 2021, Angola was selected as the focus country for the SADC-ClimSA programme, with the intention of scaling the national ClimSA activities to other SADC member states based on lessons learned from the focus country. However, the success of this expansion endeavour will necessitate ongoing support and cooperation from all stakeholders involved.
The strides made by SADC-CSC in its pursuit of becoming a WMO-designated RCC are significant milestones in the region's battle against the adverse impacts of climate change.
The efforts demonstrate SADC's dedication to climate change adaptation and its integral role in advancing regional economic development and integration goals. With climate resilience at the forefront of its efforts, SADC is poised to position the region to adapt to the challenges of climate change and secure a sustainable future for its people and communities.
