The Youth as Catalysts for Climate Action
The youth play a pivotal role in climate action, acting as powerful agents of change. They lead global movements, drive advocacy, and innovate solutions to build sustainable futures free from emissions and carbon pollution. Their engagement in mobilizing communities is crucial for creating long-term environmental resilience.
Climate Change Challenges and Government Initiatives
Climate change poses significant challenges, including flash floods, air pollution, and deforestation. In response, the government, through the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), has implemented various measures. These include public education on the dangers of encroaching on wetlands, issuing restoration orders, and demolishing illegally constructed houses in swamps. A recent restoration exercise in May 2024 involved the demolition of houses in the Lubigi swamp in Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District. Over 2,000 people were left homeless, with many setting up makeshift tents for over four months. This event prompted climate action activists, such as the Africa Tourism and Environment Initiatives Uganda (ATEI-U), to work towards preventing future evictions.
ATEI-U: A Youth-Led Organization for Climate Awareness
ATEI-U is a youth-led organization that promotes climate change awareness through sports, music concerts, seminars, and beauty contests. According to Bismac Moses Amumpeire, the executive director, these avenues are chosen to engage youth effectively. With other partners, ATEI-U organized a climate change awareness marathon at Makerere University to commemorate World Car Free Day. The event aimed to raise funds for climate resilience in the Karamoja sub-region. Participants included university students and youth from neighboring communities.
Promoting Clean Mobility and Environmental Stewardship
The marathon, themed “Running for a Green Future: Youth Innovation and Action for Climate Justice,” attracted over 200 participants. Makerere University management supported the initiative by halting vehicle movement for three hours. ATEI-U’s mission in Karamoja includes tree planting and cleaning valley dams in Karenga-Kaabong agro-tourism village. The organization also promotes agro-tourism and eco-tourism, planting indigenous fruit trees to address food insecurity. Subsequent fundraisers will benefit Kotido, Moroto, and Abim districts, with at least 2000 trees planted so far.
Addressing Air Pollution and Encouraging Electric Transport
Amumpeire hopes that Ugandans will adopt electric transport to reduce fuel emissions if the government implements tax incentives. It is estimated that over 30,000 people die annually due to air pollution-related illnesses. The transport sector contributes 60% of nitrogen oxide exhaust emissions within the city, suggesting that regulating emissions could significantly reduce air pollution.
Miss Climate Change Awareness: Empowering Women
To expand climate change awareness, ATEI-U launched Miss Climate Change Awareness, held on Women’s Day. This year, eight contestants were crowned at the regional level, with Sandra Namirembe winning the overall title. Resty Mbwali, the program manager, emphasized clean mobility, noting that cars stuck in traffic emit carbon. She advises city planners to create lanes for cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians.
Music, Anti-Poaching, and Community Outreach
The organization uses music, anti-poaching initiatives, and Ekkula Sustainable Tourism Awards to inspire conversations around climate change. Maria Moureen Nabuule, the Central Region Miss Climate Change Awareness, conducts monthly school outreach programs to educate learners about climate action. She advocates for green jobs, such as recycling plastics to reduce pollution. ATEI-U also organizes restoration exercises in Bunjako and Lazarus forests, planting native tree species after community meetings.
“Pet a Tree” Campaign: Fostering Emotional Bonding
Through the “Pet a Tree” campaign, ATEI-U plants trees and gives them pet names to encourage emotional bonding and stewardship. This approach promotes tree planting and conservation, aiming to combat climate change and increase vegetation in Uganda. In urban areas like Kampala City, small forests known as Miyawaki forests are planted due to limited space. These dense, multi-layered mini-forests enhance biodiversity, increase carbon capture, and improve local climate conditions.
Community Awareness and Waste Management
Sandra Namirembe, the reigning Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda, focuses on proper waste management in her community. Poor waste disposal causes flash floods, leading to loss of lives and property. She sensitizes people on separating plastics from decomposing materials and organizes monthly clean-ups to unblock drainage systems. In Western Uganda, she holds outreaches to schools to initiate children into being environmental stewards.
Cultural Leadership and Social Media Advocacy
Stella Aber, the Climate Change Awareness Queen for the Northern Region, engages cultural leaders in climate change awareness campaigns. Northern Uganda suffers from high deforestation rates due to charcoal burning, causing excessive heat and poor water penetration. Christine Kirungi, the Western region Miss Climate Awareness Queen, uses social media platforms to reach the public and plans tree planting campaigns in Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, and Kabarole districts.
Government Response and Tree Planting Campaigns
The government, through MWE, launched a five-year tree planting campaign called ROOT (Running Out Of Trees), aiming to restore Uganda’s tree cover by planting 200 million trees by 2026. The ministry has planted millions of trees annually since the campaign’s launch. Isa Katwesigye, assistant commissioner for Forestry, highlights the importance of indigenous tree species. David Okurut, commissioner for Wetlands Management, warns those who encroach on wetlands that they will be evicted. Muhammad Ssemambo, assistant commissioner in charge of the Climate Change Department, appreciates ATEI-U’s efforts, noting that the government aims to reduce emissions in the transport sector as outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
