Climate change and Uganda

• Usage of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) in households, transport and industries is responsible for building up GHGs in the atmosphere.

• The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from 280 PPM (pre-industrial value) to 379 PPM (in 2005) i.e. overall 35% increment.

• The concentrations of methane and nitrous oxide have increased by 148% and 18% respectively.

• The global average temperature has increased by 0.74 degrees Celsius during the period of 1906 to 2005.

• Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature since 1850.

• Even if we take steps now to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, the globe could warm up at a rate faster than it has in the past 10,000 years.

• Climate change has widespread implication for agriculture, water resources, biodiversity and forest, human health and livelihood of people.

Climate change in Uganda: Understanding the implications

• Human induced climate change is likely to increase average temperatures in Uganda by up to 1.5 ºC in the next 20 years and by up to 4.3 ºC by the 2080s. Such rates of increase are unprecedented
• Changes in rainfall patterns and total annual rainfall amounts are also expected but these are less certain than changes in temperature
• Human induced climate change in the coming century has the potential to halt or reverse the country's development trajectory. In particular, climate change is likely to mean increased food insecurity; shifts in the spread of diseases like malaria; soil erosion and land degradation; flood damage to infrastructure and settlements and shifts in the productivity of agricultural and natural resources.
• Civil society with support from international NGO's has the potential to play an important role in supporting an effective
  response to climate change in Uganda and activity there is already vibrant. Advocacy and research is one area they can support on and there is an urgent need to identify the priority issues which require investigation to support an effective response within Uganda.