Youth to benefit from climate change solutions fund

Two Ugandan cities and a municipality are among the 100 worldwide to benefit from Bloomberg Philanthropies' new Youth Action Fund, which aims to engage tens of thousands of young people in driving climate solutions. 

Kampala, Masaka cities and Nansana municipality are expected to receive $50,000 (about shillings 190 million) in microgrants to fund a grassroots movement of youth-led climate initiatives that address local contexts and objectives.

The Youth Climate Action Fund targets young people aged 15 to 24 and will be charged with innovations such as mobilising tree planting or public education campaigns, launching recycling or waste reduction initiatives, and participating in mitigation planning or preparedness programs.

According to a statement Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, an open call to all suitable candidates has been issued urging them to submit their proposals/ideas via email at info@kcca.go.ug.

KCCA welcomes ideas for youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, such as youth-led climate education programs, youth climate hackathons, youth-developed climate surveys and research, youth-informed clubs or curriculum, and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns.

KCCA also welcomes Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including: youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programs; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programs and Co-governed youth climate action plans, including: partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, or actions or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards.

Masaka city mayor Florence Namayanga thanked Bloomberg Philanthropies for the funds and their work assisting mayors worldwide in responding to climate challenges.

“The shift is real — global conversations have been handed down to mayors whose role in effecting change is undeniable, Now, through the Youth Climate Action Fund — which we are honoured to be a part of — this support will extend to enable us to empower our city’s youth to be co-designers and co-implementers of climate conservation and mitigation efforts,” Namayanja said.

She said their aim is to not only see Masaka city benefitting from this project and programme but also see the change in the climate hazards that they are facing as a region.

She rallied the young people to use this chance to come up with creative ideas because the best ideas will be fully funded.

Namayanja said Masaka will be launched on June 1, but registration is already on-going.

“The most successful climate action centres people,” said Antha Williams, who leads the environment programme at Bloomberg Philanthropies, adding: “The Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund will help marshal a new era for cities by providing technical expertise and funds to deliver the hope, perspective, and talents of young people to help address the climate crisis head-on and build more sustainable cities for generations to come”.

Cities that respond to the current urgency and commit the initial $50,000 within six months will receive an additional $100,000 to support more youth-driven projects over the course of a year.

“Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck challenge, and it’s critical that young people – who have the most at stake – help lead the way,” Michael R. Bloomberg, the UN special envoy on climate ambition and solutions and 108th mayor of New York City, said.

“This new fund will help mayors mobilise and empower tomorrow’s leaders to take action today.”

The climate crisis poses an existential threat to communities, and mayors serve as the first and last line of defence, dealing with emergencies and testing interventions on the ground. Local governments have played an important role in climate mitigation and adaptation over the last decade, and this trend is expected to continue.

Many cities are reducing per capita emissions more quickly than their national governments. However, with more than 60% of young people saying that government is not doing enough to avoid climate catastrophe or taking their concerns seriously enough, few city halls have the organisational capacity, capabilities, and confidence to unleash youth energy on problem-solving.

Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to help as many people as possible live better, longer lives. Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion in 2023.

Climate Change in Uganda

Climate change is causing uncertainty in rainfall, an increase in temperature levels, poor air quality below WHO standards, and frequent floods and landslides, with recent examples being Kasese, Bukedea, and Sironko districts, all of which have resulted in property, life, and home losses.

This has been common in the mountainous areas of Rwenzori and Elgon, especially in the districts of Bududa, Sironko, Mbale, Kasese, Butaleja, and others.

Climate change has also resulted in reduced agricultural yields, food insecurity, droughts, and frequent occurrences of extreme temperatures.

Uganda, like all other countries, has accepted the obligation to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters by incorporating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.