Experts tip on environment
Sep 23, 2011
UGANDA'S economic growth in the last two decades may not be sustained because it has been achieved at the expense of the environment, environmental experts have said.
By GERALD TENYWA
and CATHY TAMALE
UGANDA'S economic growth in the last two decades may not be sustained because it has been achieved at the expense of the environment, environmental experts have said.
They said the country was experiencing declining resource quantity, quality and productivity.
The experts said if not checked, Uganda would experience disasters such as famine, landslides, floods, and unreliable weather patterns.
“The high economic growth rates have exerted pressure on the environment,†said Betty Bigombe, the water state minister.
She was representing the Prime Minister at the opening of a two-day conference on sustainable development at Imperial Royale in Kampala.
The meeting is part of preparation for a global meeting on Sustainable Development that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.
Rio de Janeiro hosted the Earth Summit during which the term, “Sustainable Development†was coined.
Sustainable development is meant to ensure that socio-economic development takes place without depleting environmental resources.
President Yoweri Museveni headed Uganda’s delegation and encouraged the creation of environmental bodies such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the National Forestry Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Legal and policy frameworks were also created to ensure that sustainable development is integrated into Uganda’s development agenda.
and CATHY TAMALE
UGANDA'S economic growth in the last two decades may not be sustained because it has been achieved at the expense of the environment, environmental experts have said.
They said the country was experiencing declining resource quantity, quality and productivity.
The experts said if not checked, Uganda would experience disasters such as famine, landslides, floods, and unreliable weather patterns.
“The high economic growth rates have exerted pressure on the environment,†said Betty Bigombe, the water state minister.
She was representing the Prime Minister at the opening of a two-day conference on sustainable development at Imperial Royale in Kampala.
The meeting is part of preparation for a global meeting on Sustainable Development that will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012.
Rio de Janeiro hosted the Earth Summit during which the term, “Sustainable Development†was coined.
Sustainable development is meant to ensure that socio-economic development takes place without depleting environmental resources.
President Yoweri Museveni headed Uganda’s delegation and encouraged the creation of environmental bodies such as the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the National Forestry Authority and the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Legal and policy frameworks were also created to ensure that sustainable development is integrated into Uganda’s development agenda.