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COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Lesotho is a small landlocked country in Southern Africa, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa, located between latitudes 28° and 31°S, and longitudes 27° and 30°E. The country’s 30,355 square kilometers (km2 ) land area has a topography characterized by a rugged terrain with elevations ranging from 1,388 meters (m) to 3,482 m. Only 10% of the land area is considered arable.1 The geography and location of Lesotho exposes it to climatological patterns from both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, resulting in significant variability in temperatures. Topographical variability and the microclimatological influences define the ecological zones of the country: the Lowlands (17%), Foothills (15%), Mountains (59%) and Senqu River Valley (9%) (Figure1). These zones are characterized by distinct climatic and ecological differences. The majority of socio-economic activity for Lesotho is restricted to the Lowlands, the Foothills and the Senqu River Valley, leaving the mostly barren and rugged mountain region used primarily as grazing grounds.
Lesotho is a lower-middle-income country with a constitutional monarchy, ruled by a King as Head of State and governed by a 33-member Senate and a 120-member National Assembly.3 The country’s population of 2.14 million people (2020) has an annual growth rate of 0.8% (2020), and is projected to reach 2.3 million people by 2030 and 2.6 million people by 2050 (Table 1). An estimated 28% of the current population resides in urban areas, which is expected to increase to just 34% and 46% by 2030 and 2050, respectively.4 The country has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.844 billion (2020), and experiences volatile growth rates, with a current annual growth rate of −0.4% in 2019 and −11.1% in 2020.5 The economy has been negatively affected due to political instability and a prolonged period of slow growth in South Africa. While unemployment remains high at 24% to 28%, the national poverty rate declined from 56% in 2002 to 49% in 2017 and food poverty rates declined from 34% to 24% and poverty gap declined from 29% to 21%, over the same period. Lesotho’s economy and water availability are expected to benefit from the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which increases bi-lateral funding and expands mineral mining. Lesotho’s geographical characteristics and socio-economic conditions, particularly for its rural population make it one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change. The country is additionally vulnerable due to its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and reliance on regional, imported energy supplies.
The ND-GAIN Index ranks 181 countries using a score which calculates a country’s vulnerability to climate change and other global challenges as well as their readiness to improve resilience. This Index aims to help businesses and the public sector better identify vulnerability and readiness in order to better prioritize investment for more efficient responses to global challenges. Due to a combination of political, geographic, and social factors, Lesotho is recognized as highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, ranked 127 out of 181 countries in the 2020 ND-GAIN Index. The more vulnerable a country is the lower their score, while the more ready a country is to improve its resilience the higher it will be. Norway has the highest score and is ranked 1st. Figure 2 is a time-series plot of the ND-GAIN Index showing Lesotho’s progress through 2018.
Lesotho’s topography and location influences its temperate climate, characterized with alpine characteristics.
This increases the country’s vulnerability to climate variability and long-term climate change.9 Lesotho is already experiencing the negative effects of climate changes, including increased frequency of extreme events, inter alia droughts, increased rates of soil erosion and desertification, and reduced soil fertility.10 The country is likely to become generally hotter and drier across projected future climates. Likewise, Lesotho will also continue to experience extreme events like droughts and floods and other climate-related hazards, in addition to continued rainfall variability and increasing temperatures. This will likely result in adverse environmental impacts for soil erosion, deforestation, recurrent droughts, desertification, land degradation, and the loss of biodiversity including wildlife. Key sectors such as, agriculture and livestock, health, water resources, and tourism are increasingly vulnerable.
Lesotho submitted its Second National Communication in 2013 and its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2017. The NDC outlines the country’s efforts to realize its development goals and increase its adaptive capacity to climate change. Lesotho is focused on implementing adaption mechanisms to improve and diversify livelihoods in view of current and future climate risks. The country is particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts from climate variability and change on water and food security, as well as to adverse conditions to health, human settlements, and the energy sector. Climate change strategies are integrated in the country’s development strategies in support of plans to eliminate poverty and eradicate inequality. The NDC for Lesotho is consistent with the country’s overall goals of achieving medium-term economic development, poverty reduction, and longer-term sustainable development. Key areas of focus include the sustainability of the environment, water resources, sustainable land management, agriculture, energy, and health sectors.