Gov't urges private sector to tap maritime transport to reduce emissions

The Government has urged the transport sector to tap the waters of Lake Victoria by establishing maritime transport as a means to curb the growing motor vehicle toxic emissions to the environment.

Minister of State for Environment, Flavia Nabugere, made the appeal on Thursday while representing Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, as the chief guest during the climate change mitigation conference at Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo.

"There is an opportunity in Lake Victoria for the private transport sector to tap by establishing maritime transport. There is traffic congestion in Kampala and motor vehicles are emitting a lot of gases that pollute the air. They can buy ferries that can carry many people at once to various destinations on Lake Victoria," said Nabugere.

The conference was convened by Makerere University Private Sector Forum in order for the Government to engage the private sector to look at solutions and business opportunities available through climate change mitigation.

Nabugere said the ministry of Water and Environment will use the Climate Change Policy to take stock of the number of motor vehicles on the roads and how much emissions they add to the environment.

She added that the stock taking will help the Government to monitor the level of pollution.

United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) team leader for energy and environment, Onesmus Muhwezi, said the findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that the air in Kampala city is five times more polluted beyond the minimum international standard.

He explained that most of the pollution is done by motor vehicles with old engines or engines in bad mechanical shape that make the combustion of fuel incomplete hence emitting toxic gases.

According to estimates of a 2011 Uganda Revenue Authority report,  the number vehicles plying Ugandan roads  increased by over 500,000 (100%) in the previous 20 years, standing at over 600000, an increase from 50,102 in 1991.

Cars emit nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and smaller amounts of other pollutants such as sulphur dioxide  and ammonia.

Findings indicate that diesel engines generally produce much larger amounts of nitrogen oxides than gasoline engines due to the higher combustion temperatures.

Studies have linked increased exposure to motor vehicle pollutants to an increased prevalence of a wide variety of illnesses including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and heart disease.

According to a 2005 WHO assessment of the burden of disease due to air pollution, more than 2 million premature deaths each year can be attributed to the effects of urban outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution (caused by the burning of solid fuels). More than half of this disease burden is borne by the populations of developing countries.

Muhwezi warned that although the use of clean technology is vital in combating the gas emissions from manufacturing plants and cars, the biggest hindrance especially to third world countries like Uganda is lack of finance to acquire the technology.

He said Uganda's Low Emission Capacity Building (LECB) would cost over $1m (about sh3bn).

However, he encouraged Uganda to borrow a leaf from African countries such as Ghana and Rwanda that have embarked on projects to reduce emission.

"In Ghana, the Government introduced recognition of companies for their achievements in reducing gas emissions. It has created an environmental awareness award system for the manufacturing sector. In Rwanda, the Government has provided a financing window (20%) of climate fund for private sector to invest in climate change actions," said Muhwezi.

Chebet Maikut, Commissioner of the Department of Climate Change in the ministry of water and Environment, who represented the permanent secretary, said although Uganda cannot be counted among the highest carbon emitting economies, the population pressure, the growing economic activities and heavy reliance on low energy efficiency systems are significantly contributing to carbon emissions and impacting on the development of the country.

Maikut explained that the ministry has made several strides in the area of climate change mitigation.

As part of specific efforts and interventions on climate change mitigation, Maikut added that the Government, with support from the LECB, has developed Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions for the key carbon emitting sectors of the economy.

"These actions will act as a guide for programming and implementation of national and community-based activities on climate change mitigation. I am happy to note that due to proactive work of the Climate Change Department, Uganda now ranks the third best country in Africa in terms of Clean Development Mechanism performance," said Maikut.

UNDP representative, Patience Alidri, hailed Uganda for identifying climate change as a development priority for intervention to realise Vision 2040 and its integration in the Second National Development Plan.

Alidri said UNDP is happy with Uganda's effort showed by the Cabinet's approval of the Climate Change Policy and the transformation of the Climate Change Unit into a fully-fledged department that is now able to provide technical oversight and mobilize action on climate change.

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