CSOs ask Gov't to track the implementation of COP28 Resolutions

Stake holders in climate change space have started serious talks with government officials that will entice the government to track commitments made during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

COP28 which sat last year in Dubai, UAE began with a historic agreement on establishing a loss and damage fund to help developing countries cope with the effects of climate change.

The fund was agreed to by delegates on the first day of the conference. Several countries pledged money to the fund, including the United Arab Emirates, Germany, and the United States.

The fund is a significant step forward in addressing the issue of loss and damage, but it is important to remember that it is just one part of the solution.

To ensure that such agreements are honored, a consortium of civil society organizations which includes Participatory ecological land use management-Pelum Uganda, Action aid international Uganda, Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women-MEMPROW, Climate Action Network Uganda (CAN-U) among others have initiated talks with government departments like ministry of finance and ministry of water and environment.

Mercy Grace Mundulu, the Head of Programs and Fundraising at Action Aid International Uganda, emphasizes that while climate change is often perceived as a global issue, its impacts have a distinctly local dimension, affecting individuals and communities.  She asserts that events like COP28 meetings hold significance for communities, underscoring the need to integrate global discussions into local frameworks effectively.

‘’During COP28 , we were scattered chasing various things, others were looking for strategic opportunities and we didn’t get a chance to seat together as representatives from Uganda therefore this space is good to have such conversation’’ Mundulu said.

‘’When COP28 ended, people returned back home without any opportunity to meet together, strategize or discuss more about the outcomes. People used to say that these are things for the global north and that they do not relate to us. But I believe that the past couple of weeks with the rapid floods and issues happening around us have woken up people to start to have actual conversations.” Mundulu added

She however, points out that many people are still unaware of the effects of climate change, which makes it important to ensure that the local population is aware of the idea in order to support efforts for adaptation, mitigation, and prevention.

Bob Natifu, Assistant Commissioner, Climate Change, Ministry of Water and Environment, also observed that over the years there have been a lot of global meetings, decisions and policies made for the last so many years in line with climate change which now needs to be put into action. 

Natifu agreed that the needed action is the one that is required by the common person who is affected by famine, excessive heats, shifts in weather partners name it.  

In her remarks, Patricia Roy Akullo, an officer in the Climate Finance Unit, at the Ministry of Finance, said that they have taken a number of steps to make sure Uganda raises domestic and foreign capital for climate and green investment. 

 She added that they have already making some progress in about seven areas to finance the aims and ambitions of the country as far as climate change is concerned. One important project they are working on with the World Bank is the creation of the Country Climate Development Report.

"This is a key requirement to access funding from the Resilience and Sustainability Fund (RSF). We have been in regular meetings with the World Bank country delegation, and in two weeks' time, we will convene again to finalize this matter," said Akullo. 

"On top of that, we have several projects on climate financing that have been lined up, but we are going to prioritize only five bankable pipeline projects targeting bilateral and multilateral institutions," she stated without giving more details on the matter. 

Anthony Wolimbwa, the National Coordinator at the Climate Action Network Uganda (CAN-U), noted that Uganda has demonstrated interest and willingness to address climate change issues in recent years.

However, he emphasized that the country faces challenges in terms of human resources, relevant technology, and finances.

According to him, if Uganda is to make meaningful progress on climate change, significant efforts are required to address these challenges.