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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
TITLE:
Climate Change in Uganda: Insights for Long Term Adaptation and Building
Community Resilience
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Contents
Introduction
1.0 Background
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6
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3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
5.0 An Appeal
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6.1 Bibliography
6.2 Key web based resources
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Introduction
This briefing paper highlights key challenges and issues for
consideration in policy development and planning processes at
community, local, national and regional levels towards creating
awareness and building resilience to climate change impacts in
Uganda. Its an output from a review of various documents and
literature on climate change impacts and responses in Uganda
and else where. Furthermore, its informed by Environmental
Alerts experiences and lessons generated through facilitating
initiatives to support climate change adaptation at community
and local levels particularly in the West Nile region (in the districts
of Adjumani, Moyo and Yumbe) and Lukwanga Parish in Wakiso
district, Central region of Uganda; and also targeted engagement
with key policy and decision makers at all levels including local,
national, regional and international on issues of climate change. It
is targeting key stakeholders at all levels (including local leaders,
Government, Development Partners, Civil Society, Policy Makers,
Political Leaders, Private Sector, Academia, Research Institutions,
Cultural and Faith Based Leaders and Communities among others;
to mainstream, prioritize and support climate change adaptation
actions at all levels of planning and development.
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
1.0
Background
Figure 1.
Conversion of wetlands along River Nile
banks into Maize gardens in Adjumani and
Moyo, West Nile, Uganda; an unsustainable
climate change coping mechanism
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
International
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Figure 2:
Figure 3:
By Wikipedia, 2010
About 20% of global CO2 emissions are caused by deforestation. In LDCs, 62% of total emissions originate
in land-use change and primarily deforestation. For Ugandas case, some of the causes of deforestation
include conversion for agriculture, settlement and urbanization. In addition majority of Ugandans depend
on fuel wood as a source of energy at household levels, hence forest trees are cut for production of charcoal.
This trend is likely to increase unless other livelihood opportunities are provided as alternatives.
Notably, regions with the highest deforestation rates in the world are Africa, Latin America and South-East
Asia/Pacific. Deforestation has multiple economic, socio-political, demographic and environmental causes:
logging, agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, use of biomass as main energy resource, but
also policy and institutional failures, and cultural factors. The importance of engaging in meaningful action
to combat deforestation is recognized in the UNFCCC and Parties are discussing policies and approaches
to reduce emissions from deforestation in a post-2012 international agreement on climate change. The
discussions are directed towards voluntary commitments by developing countries, which would take
action to reduce their current deforestation levels and be rewarded on the basis of avoided emissions.
Parties are expected to agree during the scheduled COPs to initiate pilot activities that will help countries
to prepare for the future scheme to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. REDD+
is understood to include the policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation,
sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (Bali Action Plan, 2007).
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
National
Uganda being signatory to the UNFCCC is obliged to develop and implement strategies at local and
national levels to contribute to the overall goal of the combating climate change. In this respect, the
following initiatives have been undertaken by the Government and other stakeholders at the national
level.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Figure 4:
$5.5 bn
$4.7 bn
$6.5 bn
$4.7 bn
$5.0 bn
Drought adaptation
$3.0 bn
$8.0 bn
$1.3 bn
$1.2 bn
Total
$39.8 bn
Key Definitions
REDD refers to reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation. REED+
includes other actions which reduce emissions
from other land uses beyond forestry e.g.
agriculture
REDD + Principles
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Figure 5:
A well conserved section
of Zoka Central forest
reserve in Adjumani
district, West Nile,
Uganda
Figure 6.
Key challenges faced by the REDD+
Readiness process in Uganda
Limited awareness and access to
information on REDD+ at various levels
Integration of REDD+ initiatives in the
wider development strategies at various
levels
Clarifying tree and carbon rights and
related implications for land tenure
Limited capacity related to implementation
of REDD+ projects/initiatives
Limited funding/investments in REDD+
and how it can be made sufficient,
sustained, locally owned and viable to the
investors.
Who determines the price of carbon? Will
the determined market price offset the
costs related to REDD+ activities
Clarification of benefit sharing and
distribution mechanisms at various levels
Lack of supportive legal and policy
frameworks to guide implementation of
REDD + initiatives
Understanding land use and livelihood
relationships, economics/opportunity
costs.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
real drivers of deforestation, especially those outside the forestry sector e.g. Energy, Agriculture and
Infrastructure expansion?
f. What land tenure, security and access rights regime will ensure sustainability of REDD+ initiatives?
g. Is REDD+ targeting only Forest reserves, national game reserves or even private plantation forests,
Natural forest on private land or both?
h. Should carbon credits from REDD+ be considered as additional incentives and benefits along side
other ecosystem services and products as a result of sustainable natural resources management or
should they be considered as sole payments for sustainable natural resources management?
i. How can effective coordination for active and productive involvement of key stakeholders in the
development of the REDD+ readiness plan, strategy and associated implementation be advanced?
j. Forestry (and or natural resources) governance How can political decision making reinforce policy
making and implementation and vice versa? Hence, are the decisions made on policy provisions or
not? What about the weak enforcement of forestry and other relevant policies and legislation; What
about transparency and financial accountability in the implementation of programs and projects?
Figure 7:
A well managed and
conserved landscape in
Kabale district
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Hi Joshua
Thanks for the briefing notes on
Environmental Alert facilitated
climate change adaptation
initiatives; you have sent us, it
can throw more light and fact
to the effort of Moyo District
Farmers Associations (MDFA)
to sensitize her member
farmers on climatic change. I
am glad to inform you that the
association has so far used the
opportunity of farmers open
day in the seven sub counties
of Moyo District to sensitize
the farmers on impact and
coping mechanism for climatic
change. The theme of the
farmers open day was climatic
change and its impact on
Agriculture. It was successfully
done and attended by over
2,000 farmers; we invited the
head of department for natural
resource from local government
to lead the discussion with the
farmers assisted by EA Moyo.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
2.0
The impacts of climate change have grave implications on livelihood and economic development such
as destruction of property (crop fields, animals, houses and roads among others) making the affected
communities even more vulnerable. These communities have limited capacity to adapt to the impacts of
climate change. There is inadequate access to information (in relation to weather and climate, environmental
rights, policies and laws) by the communities, thereby limiting their preparedness for adaptation and
coping mechanisms to climate change. Additionally, there is limited knowledge and varied understanding
of climate change issues and their implications to livelihood and economic development among different
stakeholders at various levels. Also worthwhile to note is the inadequate information flow and networking
among stakeholders on issues of climate change at local, national, regional and international levels.
Furthermore, there are inadequacies in supportive policies and institutional frameworks at all levels
(local, national, regional and global) to address the impacts of climate change. Indeed climate change
threatens to undo many decades of development efforts thereby frustrating poverty eradication programs
and undermining the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG 1 & 7 i.e. for eradication
of extreme poverty and hunger; and integrating the principles of sustainable development into country
policies and programs and reverse loss of environmental resources) in Uganda. More details of key issues
and challenges on climate change in Uganda are diagnosed in Section 3.0.
Figure 8.
Teso Floods in 2007
Photo by Pilgrim
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
3.0
Figure 9:
An illustrative
explanation of the climate
change phenomenon
during a community
awareness interaction in
Zoka, Adjumani district,
West Nile, Uganda
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Uncertainty in climate change predictions arise from lack of knowledge and human actions especially
errors in measurement (Kabat, 2009). Climate change variability and uncertainity has implications on
livelihood and economic development in Uganda. Considering Ugandas economy which is agro based
with agriculture alone contributing 34% of national Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and employing close
to 80% of the population (UBOS, 2006). The increase in Ugandas population raises demand for food and
fiber thereby increasing pressure on natural ecosystems.
Climate change manifesting as prolonged droughts, unreliable rainfall patterns and floods exerts more
pressure on natural resources and has implications to the Ugandan economy, which largely depends
on rain-fed agriculture which is more vulnerable to climatic variability. Declining crop yields, especially
in Africa, could leave hundreds of millions without the ability to produce or purchase sufficient food. In
Figure 10.
Thunder storm destroys house and
property in Nabukalu village, Wakiso
district, Central Uganda
Figure 11:
Flood homestead in Moyo district,
Uganda
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Figure 12:
Hailstone and strong wind
destroy maize plantation in
Nabukalu village, Wakiso
district, Central Uganda
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Figure 13:
Demonstration of soil
and water conservation
to farmers in Ajujo
community in
Adjumani district
Testimony
.food insecurity aggravated by climate change impacts has led to increament of school fees
in most West Nile schools due to high food prices resulting from food shortage.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
The Climate Change Unit is mandated to initiate and coordinate the development of the climate change
policy. How fast can we have this policy ready because we need it like yesterday? The Cabinet needs to
give the required support to have this important policy completed and implemented and in the process,
all sectors need to mainstream climate change adaptation actions in their programs. Such a policy would
as well clarify the roles of different stakeholders at various levels.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
collection of weather information on climate change by region. Overall this has an implication of limited
knowledge and information on appropriate options to support climate change adaptation and mitigation
thereby increasing vulnerability to climate change impacts at all levels.
Schools
Category
School girls
School boys
Support staff
Female teachers
Male teachers
Farming community in Ajujo
Rank Category Rank
1 Children 1
2 Elderly 2
3 Disabled 3
4 Women 4
5 Men 5
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
4.0
The following recommendations are presented targeting key stakeholders at village, local and national
levels. They should proactively consider them in development planning and implementation to address the
critical issues towards long term adaptation to climate change impacts in Uganda for improved livelihood
and sustainable development.
Stakeholder at village level
Individual
Household/Village
Local Government
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Government of Uganda
through Ministry of Water and
Environment and the Ministry of
Finance, Planning and Economic
Development, Ministry of
Local Government, Metrology
Department
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
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Private Sector
Media Institutions
CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Development Partners
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
5.0
An Appeal
Business as usual is not a solution to the uncertainties and risks associated with climate change variability
and impacts. Leaving with the impacts of climate change requires building resilience through short term
and long term climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives. This requires proactive responses by
everybody given that we are all part of the problem and therefore should part of the solution.
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INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
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6.0
6.1 Bibliography
Bali Action Plan, (2007). http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php
EAC, (2010). East African Climate Change Policy, EAC Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania. http://www.eac.
int/environment/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=159
Environmental Alert, (2007). Climate Change: The time to act is now. Environmental Alert, Kampala
Uganda. http://www.envalert.org
Environmental Alert, (2009/2010). Activity reports on facilitated actions for supporting community
climate change adaptation in West Nile region by Environmental Alert
FAO, (2000). Food and Agriculture Organization Forest Resources Assessment 2000 definitions.
Conservation for the Sustainable Development of Forests World-wide: A Compendium of Concepts and
Term. The Forestry Chronicle Vol. 70 (6): 666-674. http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6896e/x6896e0e.
htm
Kabat Panel, (2009). Should the uncertainty in climate scenarios limit adaptation? A paper discussed
during a East Africa Regional training workshop on mainstreaming climate change adaptation in
Agriculture and Natural resources management at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Organized by
Wageningen University and Research Centre, Addis Ababa University, RUFORUM, ASARECA and
IUCN
Nabuumba Nayenga Rosetti, (2008). Gender dynamics in Agriculture in Uganda; what are the key
policy considerations? http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:0tT9FFYsqWgJ:www.finance.
go.ug/docs/Policy%2520brief%2520on%2520Gender%2520Dynamics%2520in%2520Agriculture%2
520in%2520Uganda.pdf+what+is+the+percentage+of+women+involved+in+farming+in+uganda&
hl=en&gl=ug&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjF7rLGzbNXPBH0Iw_3dqMVNGPHGltdjxd8PW4R3-Z6oW_G8
CCIhnXUqsy5rwC65OflwE2ux4yylEcpXqvi7-Zn0UczyVODB2Hx35dQlZUthbPO2k8MknRF1cSBTClE
acpW_sm1&sig=AHIEtbQt0j1-_dz4PRRGGT_d9tG68ZnBhg
NDP (2010/11-2014/15). The National Development Plan for Uganda. National Planning Authority,
Kampala, Uganda http://www.npa.ug/docs/finalndp.pdf
NAPA. (2007). National Adaptation Program of Action on Climate Change in Uganda. http://www.
preventionweb.net/english/policies/v.php?id=8578&cid=180
PACJA, (2010). Pan African Climate Change Justice Alliance. Why we oppose the Copenhagen
Accord. http://www.pacja.org
ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT 2010
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AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
Praveen, J. (2005). Climate change and its implications: Which way now? Centre for Economic Studies
and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
Stern, (2006). The Economics of Climate Change
Ronald Musoke, (2008). Municipal waste project to reduce garbage in Ugandas major towns. In
EnviroConserve Africa, 2008. A publication of Impulse Communication Options Ltd. http://enviroconserve.
org/article.php?Article=17&Mag=3&Topic=&Subtopic=
Zake, J., 2009. Due to climate change, West Nile destroys wetlands. A topical opinion article published in
the New Vision on 9th December 2009.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/459/703603
Zake, J., 2009. A guide to climate change effects and impacts in the Lake Victoria region. A publication of
the Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (UCSD) developed through reviews and consultations
with key stakeholders in the Lake Victoria region. Pp 31 Kampala, Uganda.
Zake, J., and Kaggwa D. (2007). Climate change and its implications to livelihoods and economic
development in Uganda. A key note paper presented at the Environmental Alert Awards 2007.
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7.0
By Joshua Zake1, Sheila Kiconco2, Kimbugwe Ceaser3, Harriet Drani4 and Godffrey Andama5
1 Senior Program Officer, Environment and Natural Resource at Environmental Alert
2 Program Officer, Environment and Natural Resource at Environmental Alert
3 Program Assistant, Environment and Natural Resource at Environmental Alert
4 Program Officer, Food Security at Environmental Alert
5 Program Officer, Food Security at Environmental Alert
8.0
Environmental Alert is a Ugandan NGO founded in 1988 with the mission to contribute to sustainable
development and improved livelihoods through sustainable natural resource management and
development in Uganda. Environmental Alert envisions a poverty and hunger-free society that, is able to
manage and sustain its natural resources base for attainment of sustainable livelihoods. Environmental
Alert is also a 1st prize winner of one of the most prestigious awards for environmental sustainability
in the world, The Energy Globe Award. Environmental Alert is a member of the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Contact:
Head office:
Plot 475/523 Sonko Lane, Kabalagala, off Gaba Road;
P.O. Box 11259 Kampala, Uganda; Tel: 256-414-510547 OR 510215; Email: envalert@envalert.org
Website: www.envalert.org
Moyo Office: Arua Road; P.O.Box 293 Moyo. Tel: 047629119; Email: envalert@envalert.org
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
INSIGHTS FOR LONG TERM ADAPTATION
AND BUILDING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.
ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT
Plot 475/523 Sonko Lane, Kabalagala
(behind Payless Suppermarket building), off Gaba Road;
P. O. Box 11259 Kampala, Uganda;
Tel: 256-414-510547 0R 510 215
Email: envalert@envalert.org
Website: www.envalert.org
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