Climate change and Livelihoods

The Ugandan economy and welfare of the population are intricately linked to the natural environment and highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. Currently, 88 percent of Ugandans live in rural areas where land and water resources are central to their livelihoods. Current average temperatures in Uganda are expected to increase between 0.7°C and 1.5°C by 2020, and rainfall patterns are changing dramatically (Government of Uganda, 2009). This is already severely affecting livelihoods and the ability of populations to cope.

According to the State of Environment Report for Uganda, 2008, climate change is already affecting food security in the country through reduced production of major food crops as a result of increased occurrence of droughts, floods, and soil erosion through landslides (NEMA, 2008: 82). Increased water stresses are likely to result in declining agricultural productivity, a reduction in yields from rain-fed agriculture, and loss of livestock.

Conversely, flood events pose immediate danger to lives, livelihoods and property and have the potential to cause widespread crop damage. Temperature increases can lead to the emergence of new crop pests and crop and animal diseases which will also endanger food security by affecting yields. Already, climate change is adversely affecting the suitability of some areas to maintain livestock and grow food crops such as beans, cassava, maize and plantain (Oxfam, 2008).

ECO’s climate change and livelihoods programme is aimed at enhancing the resilience of communities affected by climate change impacts while working to influence national and international climate change decisions. ECO’s climate change and livelihood interventions are guided by Uganda’s National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). The NAPA provides a process for Uganda to identify priority activities that respond to the Country’s most urgent and immediate needs in order to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

ECO is currently the chair of Climate Action Network Uganda (CAN-U) a coalition of over 286 civil society organizations engaged in climate change related advocacy work in Uganda. The Network is the Uganda chapter of Climate Action Network-International (CAN-I) based in Washington DC. CAN-U is currently working closely with the Climate Change Unit in Uganda across all the pillars of climate change response including, mitigation, adaptation, financing, capacity building and means of delivery.

ECO with support from Oxfam GB Uganda is employing the CAN-Uganda’s advocacy officer. ECO is promoting the protection of critical ecosystems such as wetlands, forests, water catchments in order to help vulnerable communities benefit from the services of such areas. ECO also strengthen community based disaster risk reduction structures that are effective to build the resilience of vulnerable communities so as to respond to the impacts of climate change.