The implementation of the Kyoto Protocol and strategies for adaptation in Mali

A signatory of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, from 1974 to the present day Mali has carried out actions in the field of climate change by means of the implementation of climate sinks as part of the combat against desertification. The total cost of actions form 1974 to 1997 is 295.7 billion FCFA (15% of total investments).

The Malian state contributed 14.2 billion Fcfa or 4.8%.

International financing accounted for 166.5 billion Fcfa or 56.39%.

The total contribution from NGOs and civil society was 115 billion Fcfa or 38.9%.

One of the largest actions in the field of climate change was the National Environmental Action Plan/National Action Plan (PNAE/PAN)

Results/Impacts of the (PNAE/PAN)

For the financing of the environment a national environmental action plan was adopted by the government of Mali in August 1998. A round table made it possible for 16 projects to be submitted with the attention of financial partners thus making possible the contribution of 28.8 billion Fcfa. Among these projects are:

► Institutional support for the Domestic Energy Strategy

► Domestic Energy Strategies

% Regional and National development, National System of Environmental Education

► Environment of the development of farmers: support for participative forestry research, Support to the Forestry Department

► Etc.

Technologies for adapting to climate change:

In this field several actions have been carried out by different partners:

The training of technicians working with refrigeration systems in order to reduce or even eradication the use of CFC gas which is environmentally damaging.

During 2003, the Global Environment Fund, Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP) organised a training seminar for the training of organisers and rural development agents. This meeting made possible the training of more than 20 people about the problems posed by climate change as well as the translation of different information programs into the national language, Bamana, in order to facilitate rural populations’ access to the information.

In Mali firewood is used to meet more than 95% of energy needs. This use of wood considerably reduced the natural carbon sinks across the country.

		Improved stoves

In order to reduce the man-made effects on the forest resources, principally wood, several adaptation technologies have been implemented by the Domestic Energy Strategy (SED) and local private enterprises.

• Sewa stove:

• Déméba stove

• Nafaman stove

• Many other kinds of improved stoves

All of this is complemented by a vast program of subsidies of Butane Gas. Mali, which imports this energy source, as part of the combat against desertification subsidies 6kg bottles. Despite this subsidy the product remains a luxury beyond the reach of the majority of the population. Cost, availability, a lack of bottles to be refilled remain obstacles facing the wide-scale spreading of butane gas. Such a spreading of butane gas would make it possible to reduce considerably the pressure caused by human activities on wood and charcoal.

		Butane gas stove (left) and briquettes (right)

Given that firewood is the most used source of energy, places where the supply can be accessed are getting further and further apart, which is an important factor in the rise of prices. Today in towns; charcoal has replaced firewood. With former techniques 3 to 4 kilogram of wood were needed to give 1 kg of charcoal. Given the small size of such a yield it was urgent to find a less environmentally harmful means and to replace wood and charcoal/ Thus fuel briquettes came into being. To date there exist several technologies using various primary matter such as charcoal residues, cotton stalks; shavings from sawmills, etc. But a problem remains the wide spreading of products that are not well know by users.