Environmentalists warn of drastic climate effects due to weak policies
Environment experts drawn from Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Ministry of Water and Environment, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) and National Forestry Authority (NFA) among others, last week raised fears that the current National Environment Management Policy, formulated in 1994, leaves a lot to be desire.
Participants at the meeting, which took place in Kampala, want the old policy reviewed and amended to address current environment degradation challenges.
“These include; climate change, oil and gas environment effects, landslides, global warming and wetland encroachment, including many others”, said GGGI Country Representative Peter Okubal.
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He said;GGGI is here to support government in areas such as water, land use and the energy sector.
“We want to preserve the environment to eradicate poverty by supporting the Ministry of Water and Environment in areas of policy and ratifying the Paris Agreement”, he said.
The director Environment Affairs at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Paul Mafabi, called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to revise the current environment policy, formulated 24 years ago, to address the challenges. He said upon agreeing on the way forward, the draft policy amendments will have to be forwarded to cabinet for approval.
“The purpose of this meeting is to look for the justification for the review of the policy and not making a new policy, which is why all stakeholders should be brought on board”, he said.
GGGI Senior Assistant, Finance and Administration Mariah Kizza, informed participants that; the Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Frank Rijsberman will visit Uganda from August 2-3, 2018 to strengthen bilateral relations between the government and the GGGI.
“During his visit, the Director General will reaffirm GGGI’s commitment to support Uganda’s transition to a green economy and contribute to its NDCs and SDGs commitments with a view of attaining middle-income status as espoused in the Vision 2040, NDPII and the UGGDS”, she said.
