International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Volume 2, Issue 9, September 2015, PP 222-239 ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online) www.arcjournals.org ©ARC Page | 222 Traditional Environmental Knowledge among Lozi Adults in Mitigating Climate Change in the Barotse Plains of Western Zambia Stephen Banda, Charles M. Namafe, Wanga W. Chakanika The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia stevebandaza@yahoo.co.uk Abstract: The background to this study had its genesis from the fact that little was known about the role of traditional environmental knowledge among Lozi adults in mitigating climate change in the Barotse plains of Mongu District, western Zambia. The study was guided by the following objectives: i) to find out how communities in Lealui area in the Barotse plains of Mongu District have been affected by climate change; ii) to assess the role of traditional environmental knowledge among Lozi adults in mitigating climate change in the Barotse plains of Mongu District; and iii) to establish what can be done to enhance traditional environmental knowledge in the Barotse plains of Mongu District to mitigate climate change. This research was a case study. It was conducted in Lealui Ward area in the Barotse plains of Mongu District, western Zambia. Mongu is located in Western Province of Zambia. The sample consisted of one hundred and twenty (130) subjects drawn from the target population: one hundred (100) indigenous Lozi adult respondents who utilize the Barotse plains in Lealui Ward, fifteen (25) local leaders like village headmen and senior traditional leaders known as area indunas, as well as five (5) institutions that provide education in environmental sustainability to mitigate climate change in Mongu District. According to the findings of the study, it is evident that the indigenous Lozi people of the Barotse plains community in western Zambia have already started being affected by the effects of the climate change. The main negative effects included increase in atmospheric temperature and excessive heat in the plains; floods; prolonged dry spells; reduction in precipitation; unexpected changes in seasons and their durations; reduction in food production, food security, water supply, energy and income; increase in diseases like malaria and diarrhoea among humans; extinction of some species of plants, insects, birds and fish; and erosion of indigenous cultural social life of the Lozi people. The study also revealed that traditional environmental knowledge among the Lozi adults was important in mitigating climate change. The study findings further showed that climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies using indigenous knowledge can be enhanced through co-operative work and concerted effort between the indigenous people of the Barotse plains and other stakeholders. The main conclusion of the study was that traditional environmental knowledge can effectively help the Barotse plains community in Western Zambia, and the world at large, mitigate climate change and enhance sustainable development if valued and utilized by policy makers and other community development agents to incorporate it in climate change science. Keywords: traditional environmental knowledge, climate change, mitigation, traditional knowledge systems. 1. INTRODUCTION This study was conducted in 2015 as part of the requirements of the doctoral studies being pursued by the main author at the University of Zambia. The study intended to assess the role of traditional environmental knowledge among Lozi adults in mitigating climate change in Lealui Ward area in the Barotse plains of Mongu District, western Zambia. According to experts, climate change is the long term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperatures (IPCC, 2007). The Earth’s climate has always changed but because of human activities it is now changing faster than it has for thousands of years. This is what scientists, academics and politicians mean when they talk today of climate change. This climate change is here to stay. It will affect all of our lives and nearly every aspect of society, from our health and food supplies to business and national economies (Kates, 1997). Climate change threatens to reverse many of the development gains that third world countries like Zambia and other African nations have made. It poses threats to food and water security, to political and economic stability, to livelihoods and landscapes.