Government has reiterated on the need for collaborative efforts in scaling up climate change financing.

Director of Environmental Affairs in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change Taonga Mbale Luka said this during official opening of the African Regional Conference on Loss and Climate Change which is currently underway in Lilongwe.

Luka added that women and children need to be empowered because of their vulnerability in society for damage caused by devastating impacts of climate change.

She said: “It has been a big challenge for us in this continent [Africa] even in Malawi to access those resources because the procedures are very rebellious and difficult.

We are pushing under the climate talks to say that the green climate fund and other financing mechanisms should try and make their procedures easier.”

On his part, Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma said the conference will focus on how African nations can mobilise resources towards climate change financing.

“We are going to be dwelling more on those issues on how do we set up financing at international level which would be trickling down to countries like Malawi.

“So we need financing for loss and damage, we know the countries are supporting through other means; insurance and these bilateral means but what we want is a dedicated funding,” said Ng’oma.

Head of Programmes and Research at Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Charles Mwangi has expressed fears that if impacts of climate change remain unaddressed, Africa will continue bearing the loss and damage.

“African positions have always been watered down yet Africa is a continent that is experiencing the greatest impacts of climate change,” said Mwangi.

The four-day conference, which has seen participants from different countries, is being held under the theme of “Consolidating African Voice on Loss and Damage and Climate Finance ahead of COP27”.