DAR ES SALAAM, December 12, 2024 - Without decisive action, climate change could cut Tanzania's economic growth by up to 4% by 2050, push 2.6 million people into poverty, and drive 13 million more to internal migration.
The new Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for Tanzania, launched by the World Bank Group today, outlines a roadmap for integrating climate considerations into Tanzania's development agenda. The report emphasizes the opportunities presented by Vision 2050, Tanzania's plan for national development, to align climate action with economic growth and poverty reduction.
"Tanzania has made impressive social and economic progress supported by steady GDP growth since 2000, but high poverty levels and insufficient investment to transform rainfed, low-productivity agriculture leaves the economy vulnerable to climate risks," said Nathan Belete, World Bank Country Director. "Integrating climate considerations into its development planning and implementation at the national, subnational, and local levels is a smart, no-regrets strategy for Tanzania."
The CCDR identifies pathways to integrate climate action with development by using macroeconomic, climate, sectoral, institutional, and financial models. It explores the impact of different climate futures on Tanzania's economic growth and outlines key intervention areas for achieving resilient, low carbon, and inclusive growth by 2050.
"Our government appreciates that climate change presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Tanzania's future, and we have recently updated our Nationally Determined Contributions as well as our Climate Change Response Strategy, which form a strong foundation for a more sustainable path for our country," said Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba, Minister of Finance. "We are committed to investing in our people and ensuring that our most vulnerable communities are equipped to face climate challenges because we know that these measures also unlock new avenues for more sustainable growth."
Five actionable pathways are highlighted by the CCDR to ensure Tanzania is equipped to meet its development objectives. They are:
I. Equip people to cope with climate risks and opportunities: Strengthening social protection, expanding access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and health services, building climate-informed education, creating climate-compatible jobs, and supporting vulnerable communities to be resilient to climate shocks.
II. Optimize land and water use and boost agriculture production: Improve land and water management, invest in climate smart technology and resilient infrastructure, augment knowledge of climate smart practices, and access to finance to boost agricultural productivity and climate-compatible rural economic activities, including nature-based tourism, while lowering their GHG emissions.
III. Prioritize resilient and low-carbon infrastructure: Develop and implement transport, digital, and energy sector planning that improves resilience to climate events and lowers GHG emissions while unlocking the potential in emerging sectors (e.g., in energy transition minerals). Enhance coordination among local government and urban development actors to augment climate resilience and competitiveness of Tanzania's urban areas.
IV. Strengthen institutional arrangements to support climate action: Put in place a strong governance framework that forges strong links and communication between central and local governments and citizens and inclusion of climate considerations in budget planning and monitoring. Use data and evidence to inform policymaking, engage people, and involve the private sector in climate action.
V. Use a range of instruments to mobilize climate financing: Reorient public spending to climate compatible development, leverage a diversity of instruments such as parametric insurance, carbon markets or credit guarantee schemes, create an enabling environment for foreign direct investment, and attract private actors to deliver climate action in key sectors including energy, transport, and agriculture.
The World Bank Group has introduced Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) as a core tool for integrating climate and development. CCDRs assist countries in identifying and prioritizing actions that address greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation needs in ways that align with broader development objectives. These reports provide data, research, cost assessments, and suggest priority actions to facilitate a low-carbon, resilient transition. They are intended to guide governments, the public, private sector, and partners by feeding into the World Bank's diagnostics and operations to enhance funding for effective climate action.
