Malawi is translating international climate commitments into local action as key stakeholders gathered in Lilongwe to map out implementation of the Kampala Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC).
Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Owen Chomanika, said the declaration offers Malawi a chance to address climate-induced displacements and environmental degradation.
“We need action not just signatures to protect lives, infrastructure, and the environment,” said Chomanika.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission in Malawi, Jeremiah Joshua, noted that climate change has displaced over one million Malawians since 2020, stressing the need for integrated national policies.
“When we plan for mobility, we plan for resilience,” said Joshua.
In his remarks Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Yusuf Mkungula added, “Resilient communities are our best line of defence against displacement. Migration must be part of our national strategies.”
IOM’s Regional Thematic Specialist on Climate Action and Mobility, Sabira Coelho, emphasised migration as an adaptation tool.
“For many, moving is not a choice it’s survival,” she said, urging governments to create enabling policies.
Participants pledged to develop a national roadmap to guide KDMECC implementation, focusing on partnerships, financing, and localisation.
Malawi endorsed the declaration at COP28 and is now laying the groundwork to lead its implementation across all sectors.
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