Government Ministries Focus Intently on Climate Change

The Ministry of Water and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development discussed the problems and new opportunities associated with climate change at a conference on Thursday and Friday. The meeting, co-hosted with the International Growth Centre (IGC) and Royal Holloway University of London, held the event at the Sheraton Hotel Kampala on June 20-21, 2024.

The workshop brought together an array of leading local experts, international researchers, and policymakers to discuss cutting-edge research and policy innovations aimed at understanding and addressing the impacts of climate change in Uganda and East Africa. Sessions covered critical areas such as agriculture and climate resilience, sustainable urban development, pollution management, and the challenges faced by firms and workers. “As the climate is changing, designing policies to increase resilience and promote sustainable growth is imperative in Uganda,” said Vittorio Bassi, Lead Academic at IGC Uganda. “Our goal with this workshop was to foster a collaborative environment to promote new policy approaches informed by academic research.”

Sam Mugume of MOFPED seconded this idea. “The number of hot days is increasing each year – between 1960 and 2003, Uganda experienced an increase of 74 hot days per year. Climate can no longer be ignored.” The meeting made three actionable suggestions that the government could explore: improving infrastructure for climate resilience, investing in partnerships and international cooperation to combat global warming, and empowering communities by helping them adapt their ecosystems, increasing conservation awareness, and promoting practices to reduce emissions.

During the event, participants engaged in dynamic discussions which emphasized the importance of robust environmental policies, low-carbon practices, and green finance across the country, exploring the interplay between climate change and environmental damage, the pathway to achieving a net-zero economy, and the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated approaches for green innovation and job creation in Uganda. Overall, it served as a catalyst for productive inter-ministerial discussion and knowledge sharing. “We reinforced the idea that by aligning local and international research efforts with practical policy applications, we can contribute to informed decision-making and devise strategies for the multifaceted impacts of climate change,” remarked Maria Orjuela Pava, Country Economist at IGC Uganda.