Uganda’s two-track strategy at climate talks
Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba with PS David Obong in Copenhagen
By Henry Lutaaya in Copenhagen
Uganda’s delegation at the climate change talks in Copenhagen wants to make sure that no matter the outcomes of the global negotiations, they should have something to take home.
During her first official briefing on Monday December 14, Water and Environment Minister Maria Mutagamba told the delegation that they must ensure they look for alternative funding opportunities and knowledge from some of the successful projects that have been implemented in other countries.
Mutagamba argued that even if world leaders were to agree on raising billions of dollars for combating climate change in developing countries this week, the money may take long to arrive in the coffers of government and yet climate change in already having its toll on Uganda.
Mutagamba said: “Even if this money is to come, we all know that it may take sometime. So we need to devise ways of getting projects to start adapting.
She added: “We should use this golden opportunity to meet with our friends [referring to rich countries with whom Uganda has good ties] and other organizations to propose projects that they can finance.”
A number of countries mostly from Asia, such as Bangladesh, and India are already benefiting significantly from international financing arrangements such as the Global Adaptation Fund and the Global Environmental Facility. China is the largest beneficiary under the market-driven Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Non-governmental organizations such as Action Aid are also engaged in supporting communities in Bangladesh to combat climate change.
Uganda is yet to record a single project that is funded to specifically target reducing vulnerability of poor people to climate change.
Signs of hope?
There are signs however that very soon, money will start flowing into the country to facilitate major efforts to combat climate change.
Fred Machulu from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of Uganda’s key negotiators in the ongoing talks told Mutagamba that the World Bank has expressed interest in funding sensitization programmes in Uganda.
According to Machulu, first priority in the planned massive sensitization campaign will be given to Members of Parliament and District chairpersons.
Uganda’s chief climate negotiator Ambassador Philip Gwage told The Sunrise that the government of Belgium has promised to support capacity building to enable Uganda benefit from CDM funding.
Mutagamba has already hooked up with the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement an energy efficient cooking stoves which minimize the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere from wood and charcoal.
The view among members of Uganda’s delegation is that sensitization of the masses about climate change must be taken as priority and embarked on immediately after Copenhagen.
