Tuesday, October 12, 2010

UN agencies aid Uganda in climate fight

Zahra Abigaba in the Daily Monitor (Uganda): United Nations agencies in Uganda have committed $36 million (Shs72 billion) towards supporting government initiatives on climate change. The five-year programme is a joint initiative between six resident and four non-resident United Nations agencies. The funds will be channelled through districts and communities especially the ones most hit by climate change like Karamoja, Bududa, Teso, among others.

“The compounded impact on health, economic development and food security will continue to grow in significance and severity if efforts are not made today to help communities, particularly those most vulnerable, to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate,” said Mr. Theophane Nikyema, the UN Uganda Resident Coordinator during a press briefing in Kampala.

He explained that the project will help Uganda develop a national climate change policy, climate change research agenda, district capacity building programmes, sensitisation campaigns and to deter the calamites that might be caused by climate change. “Uganda is facing serious climate change with temperatures expected to rise up to 1.5 degrees by 2020. The impact includes droughts, floods, landslides and glacial melting causing severe disruption to the ecosystem,” he said.

State Minister for Environment, Ms Jessica Eriyo said that the funds would be used to address calamities like drought, floods and landslides….

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