Environmental research

The main objective of the project is to install solar systems in five schools and five offices of chiefs of Thetsane, Tsolo, Ratjomose, Tokoe and Shelile. These systems will be used to run audio-visual sessions on climate change, its impacts, and adaptation and mitigation measures.At the same time the systems will also be used as demonstrations to promote use of solar energy within households and institutions. These systems require minimum maintenance of replacing parts after every four to five years but trouble shooting can be done by the communities who will be trained on the systems. In this way, particularly in schools, children will at an early age become climate change competent. In addition, through this project, a greater number of households will gain improved knowledge on the importance of using low carbon dioxide emitting energy sources and this will be evidenced by an increase in the installation of low GHG technologies. Implementation of Thetsane Climate Change Platforms is a result of recommendations by a study on establishing climate change platforms for Lesotho, conducted in 2011 by African Adaptation Programme implemented by the Meteorological Services of Lesotho. The project entails: installation of solar systems and audiovisual equipment to demonstrate and promote renewable energy technologies; sourcing, compilation and translation of climate change information into Sesotho for dissemination to local communities and pupils, to facilitate access to contextual knowledge on climate change from a community perspective; and, organization of climate change platforms for local communities and pupil

Lesotho