UGANDA is one of the countries that will benefit from the £800m (sh2,856b) international climate investment fund set up by the UK to support initiatives on clean technologies and action against climate change.
This was contained in the speech by the British High Commissioner, Martin Shearman, at the opening of an exhibition on climate change which was organised by the Uganda Museum and British High Commission at Kiira Road.
“Internationally, the UK is funding international Climate Investment Funds, with a contribution of £800m to support projects around the world to promote clean technologies and support action against climate change,” he said.
“We have a further £100m (sh357b) towards climate change research over the next five years on the social and economic impact of climate change on most vulnerable developing countries.”
But climate security, the envoy said is a problem that cannot be tackled by any one country.
“The 192 countries that have signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including Uganda and the UK, will meet in Copenhagen in December to decide what the world should do next,” he said.
“It is essential that the outcome is an ambitious, equitable and comprehensive agreement to tackle climate change security, which is fair to the developing world.”
State Minister for Environment Jessica Eriyo said climate change is the biggest development issue globally, but developing countries such as Uganda are more vulnerable to its negative effects.
“Africa as a whole contributes only about 3% of the green house gases that result in global warming and climate change yet the African countries like Uganda face the highest risks associated with climate change and global warming.”
This could mean increased food insecurity, shifts in the spread of diseases, increased soil erosion and land degradation, flood damage to infrastructure and settlements, and shifts in the productivity of agricultural and natural resources.
Eriyo asked Shearman for more support to Uganda’s budget. “UK being our colonial parent, we expect more support from you,” she said. “The diseases afflicting people are becoming epidemic in some parts of the country.”
