Lock down benefit environment-Environmental researchers

Jul 15, 2020

The improvement in air quality he says was witnessed mostly in the greater Kampala Metropolitan area.

ENVIRONMENT | COVID-19

Environmental economists and researchers have said that Uganda for the first time witnessed positive change in the quality of air during the lockdown.

"There is reported improvement in air quality, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and clearer skies emanating from reduced pollution, owing to the restricted public and private transport, slowed factory and industrial activity," explained Prof. Edward  Baale the director  Environment for Development Initiative (EfD Mak Centre).

The improvement in air quality he says was witnessed mostly in the greater Kampala Metropolitan area.

"We realise that during the lockdown, cars and aircrafts were not moving yet very many people were moving on foot, others were riding bicycles to their work place meaning that anybody who moves on foot to his work place contributes to the reduction in greenhouse gases and pollution, "he said.

While making a presentation titled harnessing the COVID-19 Recovery Programmes to Combat Climate Change in Uganda during a webinar, Prof.Baale stressed that Uganda's air quality was six times (162(𝜇g/m3) worse than the World Health Organisation recommended Levels of (25(𝜇g/m3).

"During the lockdown, NEMA indicated a 68.1% reduction in Nitrogen Dioxide, 83.9% decline in Particular Matter with an overall 50% reduction in air pollution in the greater Kampala,"he said.

He however said that the sustainability of these positive changes hang in balance since the lifting of the lockdown and return of vehicles is going to wipe out everything.

"Emissions are likely to rebound once mobility restrictions are lifted and economies recover, unless governments intervene. There are reasons to fear that we will leap from the COVID-19 frying pan into the climate fire, "he said.

He noted that just like the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate emergency also moves in slow motion yet comes with much graver effects.

"They both involve market failure, economic externalities, international cooperation, complex science, questions of system resilience, political leadership, and action that hinges on public support, "he said.

He believes that without decisive government interventions to avert climate change, emissions will rebound once the lockdowns end depending on the speed of the economic recovery.

"A rebound in emissions has already been seen in China, where mobility restrictions are being relaxed and factories are reopening,"he said.

He observed that COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that the government can intervene decisively when the scale of an emergency is clear and it has also proved that the public can willingly provide the necessary support to the state and abide by the prescribed regulations.

"This is proactive response and action ought to be replicated in the climate change action campaign, if Uganda is to reduce its degree of vulnerability to climate change and also achieve a greenhouse gas neutral development pathway, as indicated in the Uganda Vision 2040," he said.

He said, "Government has established District task Forces in decentralized governance, in addition to whistle blowers and mechanisms for tracking the contacts of covid-19 suspects, can these go beyond the fight against COVID-9 and instead be sustained to fight against climate change and environmental conservation".

Prof. Bbaale believes that if the recovery programmes can be tailored towards environmental conservation, coupled with public support with planning and supplementary budgeting, this could ease conservation.

He called upon Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to consider long term planning for the roads in the city, reflecting on walkways, ride ways for bicycles to accommodate people who would like to continue with the walking or riding in the post covid-19.

"During the lockdown, I rode a bicycle to work but my family remained worried about my safety. However, if government comes up with policies where roads are designed in a way that cyclists and pedestrians are safe, very many people would contribute to a reduction in pollution through riding and walking to work, "he explained.

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. It has left a trail of direct negative impacts on the global economy entailing disruption of supply chains, collapse of businesses and severe deaths.

NEMA's Dr. Daniel Babikwa described COVID-19 as a crisis that attracted a crisis response forcing the institution to establish systems of addressing waste with clear protocols.

"We urge people to reduce the amount of waste generated and adopt the use of reusable face masks," Dr. Babikwa explained.

He said that since the challenge of waste is still huge, they are promoting behavioural change on waste management at individual level like, separating biodegradable and non-degradable waste through private companies licensed to collect waste.

The National Planning Authority's Aaron Welikhe said covid-19 found them finalizing the strategic plan (NDPII) but managed to do review and respond to transitory effects.


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