By Isabirye Puis (Guest Writer)
Isaac Mugumbule, the Landscaping Lead of the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), shed light on Uganda’s journey towards fulfilling its commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the Paris Agreement during the Local Conference of Youths (LCOY) Uganda.
The LCOY was held at Silver Spring Hotel, Bugolobi, Kampala, on October 13, 2023. The conference was organized by the Tard Foundation and Rose Uo Movement.
Mugumbule initiated the talk by demystifying the term NDC, an abbreviation for Nationally Determined Contributions, emphasizing that these are the pledges countries make to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change consequences.
“Developed nations prioritize mitigation, while lower-income countries, such as Uganda, focus on adaptation,” said Mugumbule.
Mugumbule underscored Uganda’s substantial commitment in 2022, with an allocation of 4.1 billion towards NDC initiatives. He outlined key areas of adaptation, ranging from forestry and ecosystems to green cities, tourism, and education.
“As KCCA, our role in NDC implementation is to make Kampala green and more sustainable. Achieving this transformation requires businesses and individuals to change their practices during work,” he emphasized.
Mugumbule further mentioned KCCA’s active engagements in studying and mapping trees for a greener Kampala. He discussed last year’s audit of 21,345 and 21,736 tree species in Makindye and Nakawa, two of Kampala’s divisions.
He added, “KCCA’s climate adaptation efforts are driven by three key interventions: smart data utilization, a tree directory platform, and partnerships with youth, local leaders, and the private sector.” Isaac expressed confidence in the scalability of their initiatives. KCCA is expanding its efforts beyond Metropolitan Kampala into neighboring regions, while other city leaders look to Kampala as a benchmark for similar projects. He acknowledged the challenges posed by major pollutants like transport and energy and assured the audience of KCCA’s commitment to tackling these issues through measures such as air quality monitoring and the introduction of electric motorbikes.
He thanked the Tard Foundation for providing a platform to discuss climate change adaptation and expressed his optimism about the bright future ahead.
His insights and KCCA’s initiatives highlight the significance of local and national contributions in the global fight against climate change.
Uganda’s unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement sets an inspiring example for the world, demonstrating that progress is attainable.
