Tanzania’s Journey to Resilient, Low-Carbon Growth

DAR ES SALAAM, December 12, 2024 – Without decisive intervention, climate change poses a significant threat to Tanzania’s economic trajectory, with potential reductions in growth by as much as 4% by 2050. Additionally, the climate crisis could plunge 2.6 million Tanzanians into poverty and force 13 million more to migrate within the country.

A recently unveiled Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) highlights strategies for embedding climate awareness into Tanzania’s national development plans. Emphasizing the possibilities within Vision 2050, Tanzania’s ambitious framework seeks to synergize environmental action with economic progress and poverty alleviation.

For many years, Tanzania has demonstrated commendable economic and social advancements, buoyed by steady GDP growth since the start of the century. However, the economy remains susceptible to climate disruptions due to pervasive poverty and inadequate investment in transforming rain-dependent, low-yield agriculture.

The CCDR elucidates pathways to integrate environmental action within development initiatives by employing a blend of macroeconomic, climate, sectoral, institutional, and financial frameworks. It evaluates various climate scenarios and their potential impacts on Tanzania’s economy, proposing essential interventions to achieve resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive growth by 2050.

The Tanzanian government acknowledges that climate change is both an obstacle and an opportunity for the country’s long-term prospects. Updated Nationally Determined Contributions, along with a revised Climate Change Response Strategy, lay the groundwork for a sustainable trajectory in response to the climate crisis. There is a commitment to empowering individuals and fortifying vulnerable communities to adapt, unlocking avenues for sustainability along the way.

Key Actionable Pathways

The CCDR identifies five crucial pathways to ensure Tanzania’s development objectives are met:

1. Empowering Communities to Adapt to Climate Variability: Enhance social protection mechanisms, increase access to water, sanitation, and health services, integrate climate-responsive education, promote climate-compatible employment, and support communities vulnerable to climate shocks.
2. Optimal Utilization of Land and Water and Boosting Agricultural Output: Improve land and water management, invest in climate-smart technologies and resilient infrastructure, amplify awareness of climate-smart practices, and enhance financial accessibility to elevate agricultural productivity. This includes climate-compatible rural economic activities, like nature-based tourism, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Prioritize Resilient and Low-Carbon Infrastructure: Develop transport, digital, and energy sectors that are resilient to climate events and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Enhance coordination among local government and urban development entities to bolster climate resilience and competitiveness in urban areas.
4. Strengthening Institutional Support for Climate Actions: Establish a robust governance framework facilitating communication between central and local governments and citizens, including climate considerations within budget planning. Use data-driven policymaking to engage communities and involve the private sector in climate initiatives.
5. Diversifying Climate Financing Instruments: Redirect public expenditures towards climate-friendly development, utilize diverse instruments like parametric insurance, carbon markets, or credit guarantee schemes. Foster a conducive environment for foreign investments and engage private stakeholders to drive climate action in critical sectors like energy, transport, and agriculture.

The introduction of CCDRs as a fundamental tool serves to integrate environmental and developmental priorities. These reports assist nations in identifying and prioritizing strategies that address emissions and adaptation needs, aligning them with broader developmental ambitions. Offering data, research, and cost assessments, CCDRs suggest prioritized actions aiming for a transition to a low-carbon, resilient future. They serve as a guide for governments, private sectors, and partners, feeding into diagnostic and operational frameworks to amplify funding for effective climate responses.

Tanzania’s path towards a sustainable and resilient future necessitates collaborative action, foresight, and commitment to embracing low-carbon growth strategies. Only by aligning development plans with climate goals can Tanzania navigate its challenges, seizing the opportunities that lie ahead to create a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and environmentally sound.