A quartet of civil society groups on May 30th, 2024 launched the first Climate Justice Week in Uganda and this will run till May 17th 2024 under the theme “Mobilising for Change”.
The organizations to include PELUM Uganda, COTA, MEMPROW, and Vijana Corps also called for Africa’s fair share of the climate loss and damage fund.
At the COP27 summit in Egypt, a milestone achievement was reached with an agreement to establish a new loss and damage fund to provide financial assistance to countries most vulnerable to climate change.
According to ActionAid International Uganda country director, Mr. Xavier Ejoyi, global climate funding should be channeled to countries in Africa like Uganda and Kenya which have the least Greenhouse gas emissions but suffer worst climate change effects.
“About USD 400 million was committed for the seven selected countries. This means if was fairly distributed equally, perhaps there is a different formula that they will use, but Uganda should expect about USD50 or USD51 million. You can see that we are really fighting for crumbs. What we need to address this damage and loss by countries in the developing world is USD400 billion.” Said Mr. Ejoyi
A 2023 ActionAid study indicate that banks funded investments promoting climate change contributors like fossil fuel generation more than those that provide actual climate solutions.
Mr. Ejoyi also called on stakeholders to address structural causes of poverty like large scale commercial agriculture for export that he said is the second contributor to negative climate change effects.
