Article

A Review of the Potential Negative Impact on Vulnerable Communities in East Africa Arising from Climate Change - Uganda as A Case Study

Wei Chen^1,*

¹Geography; Trinity College Dublin; Dublin; Ireland

^*Correspondence: Wei Chen, E-mail: chenw5@tcd.ie

Received: 2024-06-02Revised: 2024-06-12Accepted: 2024-06-28Published: 2024-07-10

J. Int. Eco. Glo. Gov., 2024, 1(2), 22-34; https://doi.org/10.12414/jiegg.240175

Abstract:

Abstract: Climate change has significantly impacted the lives of millions of people. Compared to the global north, the global south emits less carbon dioxide while suffering more from the impacts of climate change. This climate injustice makes it more difficult for vulnerable communities living in poor countries. Uganda is one of the world's poorest countries located in East Africa [...] Read More.

Keywords: Climate Impact, East Africa, Vulnerable Communities, Uganda, Climate Solutions

Keywords: Climate Impact, East Africa, Vulnerable Communities, Uganda, Climate Solutions

Abstract

Abstract

Climate change has significantly impacted the lives of millions of people. Compared to the global north, the global south emits less carbon dioxide while suffering more from the impacts of climate change. This climate injustice makes it more difficult for vulnerable communities living in poor countries. Uganda is one of the world's poorest countries located in East Africa, with 42% of its population living on less than $2.15 per day in 2017, and an agricultural sector that accounts for 23% of its annual GDP, affecting the income and quality of life of more than 69% of its population. It is important to understand how climate change affects this country and look for solutions. This paper was conducted by a desk-based narrative literature review method collected from research publications, organisational reports, and expert opinions. As a result of the findings, vulnerable communities such as smallholder farmers, fishermen, and women are disproportionately affected by climate change. This paper recommends encouraging climate-smart agriculture projects and promoting climate prediction as a short-term solution to climate change problems. By analysing Uganda`s pathway to combat climate change, it can provide practical lessons to increase climate resilience globally.

Keywords: Climate Impact, East Africa, vulnerable communities, Uganda, Climate Solutions

Download the full text PDF for viewing and using it according to the license of this paper.

Funding

Funding

None.

Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of Interest:

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study.

References

References:

Atube, F., Malinga, G. M., Nyeko, M., Okello, D. M., Alarakol, S. P., & Okello-Uma, I. (2021). Determinants of smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change: Evidence from northern Uganda. Agriculture & Food Security, 10(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-020-00279-1
Bamanyaki, P., & Aogon, G. (2020). Unpacking impacts of climate change and variability on agriculture, food security and incomes in Northern Uganda: A gender standpoint. [online] Reliefweb.int. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/PACCA_InfoNote_June2020.pdf [Accessed June 2020].
Climate ADAPT. (2022). Monitoring, modelling, and forecasting systems—English. Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/metadata/adaptation-options/monitoring-modelling-and-forecasting-systems
Data for Uganda Low inFaocome | Data. (2022). Retrieved December 8, 2022, from
Eriksen, S. H., Cramer, L. K., Vetrhus, I., & Thornton, P. (2019). Can Climate Interventions Open Up Space for Transformation? Examining the Case of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Uganda. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 3, 111. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00111
FAO. (2022). https://landportal.org/ru/node/102728
FAO success stories on climate-smart agriculture. (2010).
Hart, C. (2018). Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Research Imagination. SAGE.
Kath, J., Byrareddy, V., Craparo, A., Nguyen-Huy, T., Mushtaq, S., Cao, L., & Bossolasco, L. (2020). Not so robust: Robusta coffee production is highly sensitive to temperature. Global Change Biology, 26(6), 3677-3688.
Kikoyo, D. A., & Nobert, J. (2016). Assessment of impact of climate change and adaptation strategies on maize production in Uganda. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 93, 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2015.09.005
Lay, J., Nolte, K., & Sipangule, K. (2018). Large-Scale Farms and Smallholders: Evidence from Zambia.
Bank, A. D. (2020, March 8). Access to Finance: Why Aren’t Women Leaning In? [Text]. African Development Bank - Building today a better Africa tomorrow; African Development Bank Group. https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/access-finance-why-arent-women-leaning-34645
Learn facts about Uganda Poverty and Development. (n.d.). Opportunity International. Retrieved November 25, 2022, from https://opportunity.org/our-impact/where-we-work/uganda-facts-about-poverty
Mugeere, A., Barford, A., & Magimbi, P. (2021). Climate Change and Young People in Uganda: A Literature Review. The Journal of Environment & Development, 30(4), 344–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/10704965211047159
Mulugeta, G., & Simelane, T. (Eds.). (2016). Natural and Human-Induced Hazards and Disasters in Africa. Africa Institute of South Africa. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvh8qzhx
Olaka, L. A., Ogutu, J. O., Said, M. Y., & Oludhe, C. (2019). Projected Climatic and Hydrologic Changes to Lake Victoria Basin Rivers under Three RCP Emission Scenarios for 2015–2100 and Impacts on the Water Sector. Water, 11(7), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11071449
Phillip, K. (2017, April 4). Poverty and Education in East Africa: Breaking the Cycle. Habitat for Humanity GB. https://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/blog/2017/04/poverty-and-education-east-africa/
Positive climate feedback—Energy Education. (2022). Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Positive_climate_feedback
Recha, J., Kimeli, P., Atakos, V., Radeny, M., & Mungai, C. (2017). Stories of Success: Climate-Smart Villages in East Africa. [online] Cgspace.cgiar.org. Available at: https://cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/81030
Schubert (2015). Crops under a changing climate: What are the impacts in Africa? (2015, June 17). https://ccafs.cgiar.org/news/crops-under-changing-climate-what-are-impacts-africa
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039
Tuheirwe-Mukasa, D., Haveraaen, M., Sansa-Otim, J., Kanagwa, B., & Mujuni, G. R. (2019). The Efficacy of ICT in Weather Forecast Information Dissemination: Evidence from Farming Communities in Mbale and Rakai Districts, Uganda. In Y. Bamutaze, S. Kyamanywa, B. R. Singh, G. Nabanoga, & R. Lal (Eds.), Agriculture and Ecosystem Resilience in Sub Saharan Africa: Livelihood Pathways Under Changing Climate (pp. 571–593). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12974-3_25
Twinomuhangi, R., Sseviiri, H., Mulinde, C., Mukwaya, P. I., Nimusiima, A., & Kato, A. M. (2021). Perceptions and vulnerability to climate change among the urban poor in Kampala City, Uganda. Regional Environmental Change, 21(2), 39. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01771-5
U-Report. (2015). Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://www.unicef.org/uganda/what-we-do/u-report
Uganda: Country data and statistics. (n.d.). Worlddata.Info. Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.worlddata.info/africa/uganda/index.php
UN. (2018). Uganda - Main Details Status and trends of biodiversity including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services. https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=ug
World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. (2021). Retrieved September 12, 2022, from https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/
Worlddata. (2022). Uganda: Country data and statistics. Retrieved November 24, 2022, from https://www.worlddata.info/africa/uganda/index.php
Wu, B. (2020). Chapter 10 - How small farmers enter the big market? A case study of agricultural cooperatives in China. In M. Altman, A. Jensen, A. Kurimoto, R. Tulus, Y. Dongre, & S. Jang (Eds.), Waking the Asian Pacific Co-Operative Potential (pp. 113–124). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816666-6.00010-0
Yunana, D. A., Shittu, A. A., Ayuba, S., Bassah, E. J., & Joshua, W. K. (2017). Climate change and lake water resources in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case study of lake Chad and Lake Victoria. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 36(2), 648. https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i2.42
Zhang, D. (2018). The Concept of ‘Community of Common Destiny’ in China’s Diplomacy: Meaning, Motives and Implications. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 5(2), 196–207. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.231