By G. Asege and the eastafrican gazette
CLIMATE CHANGE
Several activists and environmental enthusiasts assembled at City Square in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, around 0830hrs, on May 16, 2024.
They held placards with displaying powerful messages advocating for climate change interventions such as: “Ensure Polluters are Held Responsible, Safeguard Our Environment”; “People and Planet Together Equal Prosperity! Advocate for Climate Justice”; “The Fate of Our Future Hangs in the Balance! Take Action on Climate Change Today”; “Allocate Funds to Climate Solutions, Not Destruction”; “Take Immediate Action or Face the Consequences”; “Our Future Cannot be Compromised, Invest in Climate Change Action”; and “There is No Alternative Planet! Stand up for Climate Justice”, alongside numerous other heartfelt statements.
The group of climate change activists, led by Xavier Ejoyi, the Country Director of ActionAid International Uganda (AAIU), and Mercy Grace Munduru, the organisation’s Head of Programs and Fundraising, with a police band, marched through the city streets despite a heavy downpour, calling for action to address climate change.
In addition to ActionAid International (AAIU) officials from Kenya and various countries, the event also drew the participation of officials from other Civil Society Organisations such as PELUM Uganda, Climate Action Network (CAN), COTA, and Vijana Corps among others.
The demonstration, intended to amplify voices and influence climate change discussions and decisions at different levels while raising awareness about the dangers of climate change, also drew a crowd of onlookers who followed them all the way to Makerere University School of Public Health.
There, the media was briefed on various issues before engaging in a detailed discussion on the impacts of climate change on society.
The event concluded with a national Climate Justice Symposium themed “Words to Action: putting your money where your mouth is”.
Key issues
In addition to requesting for more funding to address the effects of climate change, activists in the field of climate change are placing significant emphasis on the importance of allocating greater resources towards agroecology.
They argue that this approach is the only way to protect the delicate ecosystems of the environment, while also improving livelihoods and creating a community that is better prepared to face the challenges of climate change.
Furthermore, during the event, they showcased a variety of purely organic agroecology products.
During the symposium, Ejoyi (AAIU country director) highlighted that the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe day by day.
He emphasized the urgent need to take action to save humanity before it is too late.
He highlighted the importance of investing more in agroecology practices, which take a holistic approach to food production by prioritizing the well-being of people, the planet, and prosperity for all.
ActionAid Internation conducted a study on the primary causes of climate change, identifying the increase in fossil fuel production over time as one of the biggest dangers.
Ejoyi noted that the fossil fuels are depleting the ozone layer, leading to rising temperatures.
Additionally, he pointed out that large-scale farming is also contributing to climate change by destroying natural green cover and ecosystems.
He urged the government to implement policies, strategies, and potential legislation to support agroecology and renewable energy, which facilitate the restoration of ecosystems and the reduction of climate change impacts.
Why agroecology?
Agroecology involves harnessing natural solutions to enhance agricultural practices and increase yields, particularly by empowering small-scale farmers to adapt to climate change through simple, accessible irrigation methods, self-made manure, and diversification of their farming activities such as animal husbandry and crop cultivation within the limits of their land without degrading the environment.
“We want the government to allocate funding to fund agroecology just like it is has done to private cooperation participating in industrial agriculture which is for profit but not for the people or the planet,” he said.
He emphasized that by embracing agroecology, Ugandans can achieve food sovereignty through self-sufficient food production and proper care for their animals, all while restoring the environment and enhancing their quality of life.
“To achieve this, we need to invest more in proper agronomic practices to help people know that despite the effects of climate change that is hitting hard, they can still grow crops and rear animals to diversify their income and livelihoods,” he explained.
He also stressed the detrimental impact on the planet’s delicate balance caused by the country’s support for large-scale agriculture that depends on deforestation, leading to the depletion of crucial greenhouse gases.
“We want to see actual actions including moving away from destructive activities such as financing and production of agro industrial agriculture; to supporting real solutions like agroecology that research has backed on to help in nurturing the lives of people that are affected but also helping to contribute to the restoring of the ecosystem and reducing the impacts of climate change,” he said.
It said that achieving climate justice is crucial and essential, requiring a collaborative approach involving government, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and the media.
“Just this month alone Uganda has recorded the highest level of Lake Victoria waters in history, and the country has lost lives in flooding and mudslide areas like Bunyangabo, Kasese, Obongi and in Bududa,” he said
The Ministry of Water and Environment reported that Lake Victoria has reached its highest level ever recorded in history. Presently, it is at 13.66 meters, compared to 13.50 meters in 2020.
This rise is attributed to the effects of climate change.
Ejoyi also noted that the country experienced record-breaking heat levels earlier this year, underscoring the reality of climate change impacting our livelihoods.
Women/girls hit more factor
Munduru, the Head of Programmes and Fundraising at AAIU, underscored the crucial link between climate justice and the rights of individuals on the frontlines, particularly women who bear the brunt of the impact within their communities.
“Women must be protected from effects of climate change as these contribute in bringing life and contribute 70% to the agricultural sector and if this percentage does not cultivate, the world will not have food and there will be no life,” she noted.
Women, particularly those in rural areas, rely on their surroundings for sustenance as caretakers in households, obtaining food, water, and firewood.
Some utilize natural resources to create crafts that they can sell to support and educate their children.
According to the UN Environment, 80% of individuals displaced by climate change are women or girls, who encounter increased vulnerabilities such as poverty, violence, or unintended pregnancies as they relocate to safer areas.
Health factor
During an interview with The eastafricangazette, Anthony Wolimbwa, the National Coordinator of the Climate Action Network, emphasized that discussions in previous meetings primarily centered around energy, transportation, and agriculture, with health being overlooked for too long.
He highlighted that health was formally included in the agenda for the first time during COP28.
The COP28 presidency, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, introduced the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, which garnered signatures from over 120 countries.
Wolimbwa stressed the importance of shifting climate strategies towards a stronger emphasis on social implications.
The declaration emphasizes the importance of governments preparing healthcare systems to handle the impact of climate change.
It also covers various aspects, including reducing emissions, increasing funding for climate and health solutions, and constructing more resilient health systems.
According to Denis Pato, the executive Director of Vijana Corps, the community of Wadelai in Pakwach District remains one of the places which is always severely affected by both floods and droughts.
He attributed this situation to human activities such as deforestation and practices that contribute to the degradation of vegetation.
He highlighted that approximately 100 households had to relocate due to flooding, and many people have lost their lives and livelihoods as their gardens were flooded and faced prolonged droughts.
Betty Ocwee, an environmental campaigner, emphasized the importance of security personnel protecting individuals who are actively working to combat environmental degradation. She pointed out the detrimental effects of large-scale tree cutting in Northern Uganda, affecting the entire area.
Calling for collective action, she urged all community members to work together towards addressing and rectifying any injustices within their communities, regardless of the challenges they may encounter.
Financing/ partnerships
During his presentation, Prof. Julius Kizza, from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, stressed the importance of rejecting the notion of “do as I say but not as I do.”
He further highlighted the pressing requirement to advocate for a just climate justice fund.
“Let the pollutants produce a big chunk, but don’t fold hands because the donors are not charity houses. They are just projections of power, so as you push them to give you money, please put aside your own, because we can sit down and say donors have not given us funds,” he noted.
He added that establishing strong collaborations among the government, universities, and industry is crucial.
Kizza highlighted that such partnerships play a significant role in funding research that aligns with our policy requirements.
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