BAKU – Uganda has taken a significant step towards combating climate change by unveiling its Forestry Compensation Strategy at the UN Climate Summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. This initiative is part of the Alliance for Climate Resilience (ACR), which brings together stakeholders to promote sustainable energy generation and utilization, addressing energy access, affordability, and security challenges.
The strategy focuses on developing projects that generate carbon credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector, particularly from oil and gas projects. According to Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, “As we develop our energy projects, we must prepare for the greenhouse gas emissions they will generate. We have identified government and district forest reserves to offset these emissions.”
Key Interventions:
- Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR)
- Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) projects
These projects aim to achieve an initial carbon drawdown of up to 1,000,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to Uganda’s energy projects. A pre-feasibility study has identified potential sites, targeting approximately:
- 65,000 hectares of degraded land for reforestation
- 220,000 hectares of threatened forests for protection under REDD+
The Alliance for Climate Resilience (ACR) seeks to establish strategic partnerships across the public and private sectors to secure land and implement these projects effectively. This collaborative platform includes government ministries, agencies, development partners, private sector entities, and other stakeholders.
The Forestry Compensation Strategy builds on Uganda’s Energy Transition Plan, launched at COP28, providing a roadmap for sustainably developing the country’s energy resources. By integrating nature-based solutions and fostering collaboration, Uganda aims to balance industrial growth with global environmental goals, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable energy practices.
