DILI, 29 march 2022 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for the Environment (SEA) evaluates the working progress on climate change mitigation. It is through the IV national conference on climate change with the theme “Reduce climate change to guarantee health, ecosystem, and food security sector”.
This conference aims to provide two reflections on national mitigation of climate change and the country of Timor-Leste’s ability to access safe foods.
“Timor-Leste must carry out climate mitigation and adaptation actions in the national policy of the Eighth Constitutional Government. The policy reinforces the capacity for resilience to avoid climate change”, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral, representing the Prime Minister, said in his remarks, at the opening of the National Conference, at the Ministry of finance hall, in Aitarak laran.
He added that Timor-Leste has only a 0.03% of gas emission level. But gas emissions are mostly produced by developed and industrial countries.
The minister assured that the Government continues to cooperate with civil society and national and international partners for action to reduce climate change.
Mr. Joaquim Amaral said that in the national plan from 2011 to 2030, the government gives priority to the National Adaptation Plan on food security and agriculture, water resources, human health, natural disasters, forest, an ecosystem in the coastal area, infrastructure, and development of the capacity.
To adapt to the droughts in the long term, the Government continues to guarantee water conservation and irrigation projects to help the forests. The minister said that the government has allocated US$40 million this year for water conservation and supply.
Secretary of State for the environmental Demétrio Amaral explained that research by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) shows that Timor-Leste managed to achieve 6% in the area of adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
According to the official, the fight against climate change needs the contribution of all people and international partners.
Demétrio Amaral said that the Government has access from the Green Climate Fund to more than US$54 million to combat climate change and has also recruited 500 national brigades to improve the green environment in Dili and minimize monitoring.
“The program has a positive effect”. The Chargé d’Affaires at the EU Embassy, Dörthe Wacker, also assured that the EU is working on solutions to the issue and has been following the country for a decade in its efforts to find opportunities for the Timorese to adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods.
“We currently support 13 programs with a total value of 66.3 million euros for reforestation and agriculture,” she said.
Financial support is intended for the Ai Ba Futuru agroforestry program of the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), the Rai Matak program of the Oxfam Non-Governmental Organization, the Mercy Corps plastic waste reduction, the Organization’s Conservation Agriculture program for Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the Reforestation program in Dare of the São Paulo Foundation of the Diocese of Dili.
The representative mentioned that the projects of EU member states have a project by Quinta Portugal on coffee agroforestry and the support project by French cooperation on “Improving water conservation in East Timor involving young people and communities with the Permatil methodology”.
The official also guaranteed that the government and European Union cooperate on program implementation for 2021-2027 for green and sustainable economic diversification.
“We are going to invest 42 million euros in this priority area over the next five years. these activities. We are currently planning and will be climate-sensitive and will incorporate elements of climate change adaptation and mitigation,” she concluded.
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Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
