Namibia Country Report

The report identifies Namibia as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly in agriculture and water resources. It finds that while national policies like the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (2012) are strong, there is a significant gap in translating these into university curricula and coordinated research. The University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia are key partners, with UNAM's Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) emerging as a hub for interdisciplinary work. However, the report highlights a lack of dedicated CCD postgraduate degrees, insufficient institutional coordination, and a need for greater transdisciplinary research that engages local communities and indigenous knowledge.

• Namibia is characterized as one of the driest countries south of the Sahara and is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, livestock management, and fishing.
• Projected climate changes for Namibia include temperature increases between 1°C and 4°C by 2046–2065, increased evaporation and evapotranspiration of 5-15%, and a potential reduction in groundwater recharge of 30-70%.
• National priorities for adaptation are focused on four main themes: food security and sustainable biological resource base, sustainable water resources base, human health and well-being, and infrastructure development.
• Mitigation priorities in Namibia center on sustainable energy and low-carbon development, as well as transport.
• There is a significant gap in the availability of specialized CCD education; most universities currently 'integrate' climate issues into existing courses rather than offering dedicated CCD degrees.
• The University of Namibia's Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC), established in 2010, serves as a primary vehicle for CCD research, though it lacks a formal database or knowledge management system.
• Research in Namibia is predominantly government-driven and often takes the form of unpublished consultancies, with limited publication of findings in peer-reviewed literature by Namibian researchers.
• The Gobabeb Centre of Excellence is a SADC-level joint venture that tests and promotes appropriate technologies, including the development of a Hybrid Energy System.
• Transdisciplinary research is hindered by a lack of university incentives, a fear of disciplinary domination, and a resistance to change among senior academics.
• There is a critical need for 'boundary organisations' to facilitate feedback loops between scientific institutions, policy makers, and land users to improve the translation of climate science into local action.

APA

Lotz-Sisitka, H., & Urquhart, P. (2014). Namibia Country Report. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SARUA-Vol2No6-Namibia-Country-Report.pdf

Chicago

Lotz-Sisitka, Heila, and Penny Urquhart. Namibia Country Report. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2014. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SARUA-Vol2No6-Namibia-Country-Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lotz-Sisitka |first1=Heila |last2=Urquhart |first2=Penny |title=Namibia Country Report |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=May 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SARUA-Vol2No6-Namibia-Country-Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lotzsisitka2014namibia, author = {Lotz-Sisitka, Heila and Urquhart, Penny}, title = {{Namibia Country Report}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = may, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/SARUA-Vol2No6-Namibia-Country-Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }