Launch of the National State of the Environment and Outlook Report (NSEOR 2026)

𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐈 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐄𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓

Malawi has launched its most comprehensive environmental assessment report in 16 years, with a call for collective commitment to protecting the environment and conserving biodiversity for future generations.

Minister of Natural Resources Patricia Wiskes MP, officially unveiled the National State of the Environment and Outlook Report (NSEOR 2026) today, Friday, in Lilongwe during the joint commemorations marking World Environment Day and World Biodiversity Day.

The report warns that worsening environmental degradation is threatening Malawi's economy, food security and climate resilience. Among its key findings, the NSEOR 2026 says Malawi is losing about 250,000 hectares of forest annually, increasing the country's vulnerability to floods, droughts, heatwaves and cyclones.

The report also warns that water scarcity is approaching a critical threshold. It notes that water availability declined from 1,400 cubic metres per person to 930 cubic metres per person between 2013 and 2017 due to population growth and infrastructure failures estimated at 40 percent.

In addition, the more than 200-page report reveals that urban air pollution, particularly in Lilongwe and Blantyre, now exceeds WHO safe limits. It attributes the trend partly to vehicle emissions, which reportedly tripled between 2013 and 2021.

The report further notes that 96 percent of Malawi's population relies on biomass energy for cooking, a practice that contributes to indoor air pollution and disproportionately affects women and children.

Speaking when she graced the launch, Honourable Wiskes called on stakeholders to adopt environmentally sustainable production methods. She noted that achieving Malawi's long-term development aspirations and the Sustainable Development Goals is dependent on having a sustainable environment.

"The challenges before us are significant but not insurmountable," she added.

In her remarks, Board Chairperson for the Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Dr. Yanira Ntupanyama said production of the NSEOR every five years is a statutory requirement under the Environment Management Act of 2017.

"I wish to emphasise that the NSEOR is more than a publication. It is a call to action. It challenges us to make informed decisions today that will secure a healthier, more resilient and more prosperous future tomorrow," she said.

Coordinated by the Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), the report was produced by more than 60 Malawian scientists and institutions with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal, and financial support from the Government of Norway.