MAPUTO UNPREPARED TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MAPUTO 000507

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR OES/PCI, OES/ENV AND AF/S

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV SOCI MZ
SUBJECT: MAPUTO UNPREPARED TO DEAL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS


1. (U) This cable represents the first in a series of
innovative collaboration in environment/science reporting
between Embassies Maputo and Pretoria. Embassy Pretoria ESTH
Officer and Maputo Economic/Commercial officer visited
environment and science projects
in Niassa, Sofala and Cabo Delgado Provinces and met relevant
government and private officials in Maputo during a March
8-17, 2009 visit.


2. Summary. Pretoria ESTH officer reviewed Maputo Municipal
Council (MMC) Head of Social Affairs Dr. Alexandre Manguele's
March 2009 presentation on climate change in Maputo.
Manguele states that Maputo is "highly vulnerable" to natural
disasters, especially hydro-meteorological (flood, droughts
and cyclones). Manguela believes that Maputo's strengths in
combating potential climate change impacts include a
decentralized organizational structure, a transparent
government and improved managerial/technical capacities.
Maputo lacks the managerial and technical skills to address
climate change at the city level. End summary.

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BACKGROUND: MAPUTO'S VULNERABILITIES
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3. Maputo has 1.1 million inhabitants, seventy percent of
whom live in informal settlements. Fifty-four percent live
below the poverty line. Approximately sixty percent of the
city's inhabitants lack sanitation facilities. Only about
25-50 percent (depending on the area) of solid waste is
collected. Approximately fifty percent of Maputo's roads are
paved. Sea walls hold back the sea and must be continuously
maintained or moved due to sea erosion.


4. Maputo's coastal zones, transportation systems, wetlands,
urban agriculture, residences, and waste/water management
systems are all vulnerable to potential impacts of climate
change. Cyclones damage dunes and coastal infrastructures,
including houses. High storm flows and sea rises cause
increased erosion, increased road maintenance costs, and
saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. Temperature variations
accelerate damage to roads and bridges, increasing
maintenance costs. Heavy precipitation causes floods,
landslides, washouts, damaging housing and infrastructure.
Manguela says Maputo will need new flood and storm water
systems and different methods to control erosion to cope with
anticipated climate change impacts. Longer dry seasons could
mean crop failures, drying of water reservoirs, and loss of
habitat.


5. Maputo's Avenida Marginal which runs along the coast is
gradually disappearing. The sea is causing serious erosion
problems including the uprooting of the casuarinas trees
planted by the Portuguese to stop erosion. On three islands
located a few kilometers from the coast mangroves are
disappearing, the water quality is degrading and
desertification due to drought is increasing.


6. Xefina island, which has been home to sixty subsistence
fishers, is slowly sinking into the sea. Parts of a colonial
airstrip have already disappeared. Maputo Province Governor
Rosa de Silva urged residents in February 2009 to help stop
erosion by planting trees, the same trees residents have been
chopping down for firewood. (Comment: Xefina served as a
barrier reef for Maputo, protecting it from the full force of
the Indian Ocean. If the island disappears completely, many
Maputo neighborhoods will feel the impact of the ocean
directly. End Comment.)

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MAPUTO'S STRATEGY ) IMPROVED URBAN DEVELOPMENT
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7. Manguele states that Maputo is "highly vulnerable" to
natural disasters, especially hydro-meteorological (flood,
droughts and cyclones). He provides the devastating floods
of Feb/March 2000 as an example of this vulnerability. Seven
hundred people were killed and Maputo sustained $600 million
worth of damages.


8. The Maputo Municipal Council (MMC) has developed a
climate change two-phase development plan (PROMAPUTO)
concentrating on improving municipal financing and integrated
urban planning. The first phase (2007-2009) includes
rehabilitation of primary infrastructure (drainage systems,
roads and coastal protection) and engagement of the private
sector on issues such as waste collection.)

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MAPUTO 00000507 002 OF 002


CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION
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9. Manguela believes that Maputo's strengths in combating
climate change include a decentralized organizational
structure, a transparent government and improved
managerial/technical capacities. Weaknesses include a lack
of managerial and technical capacity to address climate
change at the city level. He cautions that budget
constraints and limited human resources remain severe gaps.


10. Manguela believes Maputo must take the following actions
to effectively deal with adaptation/mitigation:
- Improve drainage/ storm water systems;
- Restore coastline protection dikes;
- Develop adaptation./mitigation urban plans;
- Improve solid waste management;
- Installation of ecological water treatment plants; and
- Implement Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects.
Manguela notes that the city has strong political will, but
needs financial and technical assistance, including a
multi-dimensional study of climate change impacts on Maputo.

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Comment
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11. Maputo is a city that could be severely impacted by
changes in its climate. The city infrastructure is not able
to handle any potential adverse impacts. The city has no
municipal climate change unit and no municipal employees with
technical or managerial skills to staff such a unit. There
is political will, but additional programs sponsored by
international donors will be essential in helping Maputo meet
potential climate challenges. End comment.
Chapman