Civil society actors and environmental experts have warned that Malawi’s current climate responses remain inadequate to match the severity of floods and droughts affecting communities, despite annual tree-planting exercises and the existence of environmental policies.
The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONEC) alluded that interventions to mitigate climate shocks are moving too slowly, leaving districts repeatedly exposed to climate-induced disasters.
CISONEC National Coordinator Julias Ng’oma said Malawi must shift from symbolic interventions to climate-informed action.
"Beyond tree planting sessions, more needs to be done. Communities should stop activities that contribute to climate-related disasters including deforestation, charcoal burning and improper disposal of waste," said N'goma.
He further called for full utilization of existing environmental and natural resources laws as well as stronger awareness campaigns so that citizens understand their roles and responsibilities.
Ng’oma noted that Malawi continues to experience natural disasters annually despite tree-planting efforts each season, arguing that deeper structural loopholes must be addressed.
Recent data reinforces concerns raised by the two experts. The World Bank Climate Risk Profile (2023) shows that extreme weather events in Malawi have increased in both frequency and intensity over the past two decades, with floods and droughts identified as the most frequent hazards. The profile also notes that more than 80 percent of Malawians rely on rain-fed agriculture, making the sector highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
Concurring with Ng’oma, environmental expert Isaac Malwimba argued that Malawi must reform decision-making around development and infrastructure if climate shocks are to be reduced.
He said government needs to prioritize climate and risk reduction assessments in planning processes in order to arrest the climatic shocks leading to disaster.
"The country has not adequately incorporated climate resilience into infrastructure planning despite having relevant policies. Stakeholders must regard climate change as an important component within the environmental sector," he argued.
Similarly, the 2024 World Food Programme report estimated that 4.4 million people required food assistance during the 2023/24 consumption year following erratic rains and prolonged dry spells.
According to the WFP, climate variability remains a major driver of food insecurity in the country.
In economic terms, disaster losses continue to weigh on national development as the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery estimates that Malawi loses up to 1.7 percent of GDP annually to climate-related disasters through damage to infrastructure, agricultural losses and emergency response costs.
For instance, government disaster records show that cyclone-related events since 2019 including Cyclones Idai, Ana, Gombe and Freddy, have displaced more than 800,000 people nationwide and left long recovery gaps, especially in rural districts.
Meanwhile, districts such as Nkhotakota have for many years experienced recurrent flooding that destroys homes and crops, washes away infrastructure and displaces families including resulting in loss of life and property.
