King Letsie III pushes climate agenda in Berlin
Strengthens climate diplomacy through key bilateral meetings
‘MANTSANG KHUTLISI and
TEBOHO KHATEBE MOLEFI
MASERU – On the sidelines of the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum, King Letsie III, accompanied by the foreign minister, Lejone Mpotjoane, engaged in high-level bilateral discussions to advance Lesotho’s climate resilience and regional cooperation agenda.
Held as a two-day forum from June 16 to 17, the Berlin Climate Mobility Forum has been organized by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility in collaboration with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, it focused on the urgent challenges of climate mobility and promotion of informed public discussions.
Held under the visionary leadership of former President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi, and his team, the forum brought together global leaders, experts, and advocates to deliberate on the complex realities of climate mobility especially as communities across the globe face increasing displacement due to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation.
The forum, and other side meetings held, underscored Lesotho’s proactive role in global climate diplomacy, particularly in advocating for sustainable energy solutions and adaptation strategies for vulnerable nations.
King Letsie III’s participation highlighted his continued push for targeted international support for mountainous regions in climate financing mechanisms, with Lesotho a high-altitude country, facing unique climate challenges that include water scarcity and ecosystem degradation; also touching on renewable energy leadership, building on the country’s domestic efforts in hydropower, solar and wind energy.
The King is seeking international investment and technology transfers to scale up clean energy projects, and as climate change exacerbates rural-urban migration, he is engaging in dialogues on sustainable urban planning and livelihood resilience for displaced communities.
Under the leadership of King Letsie III, Lesotho has embarked on an ambitious journey toward energy independence through renewable energy initiatives. Recognizing the potential of solar, wind, and hydropower, the King has championed policies and partnerships to transform Lesotho into a green energy hub.
In a powerful address delivered at the Berlin forum, Lesotho called for people-driven approach to address the rising challenges of climate-induced mobility.
The King expressed profound gratitude to the Centre for Climate Mobility for organizing the ground-breaking event, describing it as a “vital path to accelerate partnerships” and foster cross-sector collaboration in tackling climate mobility.
King Letsie III said Lesotho is deeply honoured to participate in the landmark event, which marks a significant milestone in the country’s collective journey to advance human-cantered, justice-oriented responses to the multifaceted challenges of climate change.
The King painted a sobering picture of Lesotho’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change. With a climate classified as temperate with alpine characteristics, Lesotho experiences hot summers and cold winters, exacerbated by its high-altitude geography. Its lowest point sits at 1 400 metres above sea level.
“We have four distinct seasons marked by wide fluctuations in temperature and erratic rainfall patterns. Floods, a regular occurrence from May to September, can be severely intensive isolating rural communities and cutting them off from access to health services, education, and economic opportunities,” the King noted.
He said the geographic and climatic factors compounded by existing socio-economic vulnerabilities have made Lesotho one of the world’s most exposed countries to climate change.
Assessments across key sectors including water, agriculture, infrastructure, land use, and health have revealed a disturbing vulnerability to rising temperatures, land degradation, and unpredictable weather.
Despite these stark challenges, King Letsie emphasized that his people, especially women and youth, are not passive victims of climate change, they are already agents of resilience and innovation adding that their grassroots leadership offers valuable insights for developing effective climate mobility solutions.
By involving these groups in every stage of climate mobility from local planning to national policymaking, he further pointed out, Lesotho is aiming for more inclusive, context-specific, and sustainable responses.
“We must transform our adaptation strategies from reactive to anticipatory,” the King urged.
Reaffirming commitment, the King announced plans to integrate climate mobility into all levels of its climate change planning. This includes embedding it within the country’s nationally determined contributions (NDCs), national adaptation plans, disaster risk reduction frameworks, and national development strategies.
The government is also investing in institutional capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-induced displacement, as well as allocating resources for climate education programs led by women and youth.
“Community-based knowledge must not only be acknowledged, but actively shape our national policies,” the king emphasized.
Lesotho also plans to align its NDC initiatives, gender action plans, and capacity-building strategies with a broad societal approach that centres communities as co-creators of policy not just recipients.
Concluding his remarks, the King issued a resounding call to action: “Let us create national and regional platforms for the sharing of knowledge and experience on climate mobility. Let us incorporate the outcomes from these platforms into our formal climate strategies.”
The address underscored the importance of unity and shared responsibility in confronting the growing threat of climate-induced displacement. With countries like Lesotho taking bold steps, the Global Climate Mobility Forum sets the stage for a more equitable and responsive global climate strategy one that leaves no community behind.
One of the most notable engagements was a productive dialogue with former President Masisi; their discussions centred on enhancing regional climate cooperation with both leaders emphasising the need for Southern African nations to collaborate on renewable energy projects, water management and climate adaptation strategies.
Given Botswana’s advancements in solar energy and Lesotho’s hydropower potential, the two leaders explored opportunities for joint energy infrastructure projects to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The meeting also reinforced the strong historical relations between Lesotho and Botswana, with a focus on trade, investment and knowledge-sharing in green technologies.
King Letsie III praised Botswana’s leadership in sustainable development and expressed Lesotho’s commitment to deepening partnerships for a climate-resilient future.
The Berlin Climate Mobility Forum serves as a crucial platform for small but climate-vulnerable nations like Lesotho to amplify their voices in global sustainability discussions.
King Letsie III’s engagements in Berlin reaffirm Lesotho’s commitment to climate leadership and South-South cooperation. By fostering strategic alliances with nations like Botswana and engaging with global stakeholders, Lesotho is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s green energy transition.
As the forum ended on Tuesday, the world will be watching how small nations with bold visions can drive meaningful change in the fight against climate change.
