Celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay, by striving for a sustainable & inclusive economic future for all East Africans
As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s become more clear that in order to grow a thriving economy, we must value and protect environmental and public health. Sustainable and community-driven approaches to recovery will be essential in establishing a direction for long-term economic prosperity, especially as our communities are impacted more frequently and severely by another global shock: climate change. It is incumbent upon policymakers and financial investors to empower a vision grounded in sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Together, Ugandans and East Africans, in collaboration under the Inclusive Green Economy Network-East Africa (IGEN-EA), are driving a vision across civil society and economic sectors—uniting farmers, fisherfolk, youth, women, tourism professionals, clean energy industry leaders, agro-foresters, community leaders and more—in support of a green, inclusive economic future.
Uganda hosts a diversity of economic sectors that have historically offered jobs to communities and national economic growth without producing environmental harm. Tourism, which relies on Uganda's natural landscapes, contributes significantly to its economy, accounting for 7.7 percent of our GDP and more than 667,000 jobs. Uganda is also the home of a burgeoning clean energy industry, which employs 1.7 million people to meet a growing demand for clean energy products such as clean energy-saving cookstoves. Over a quarter-of-a million local fishermen are employed on Lake Victoria and around 1.2 million Ugandans work in the fishing industry, according to FAO. The sector is also responsible for the livelihood of 1.4 million people, majority of whom are women and youth, in jobs that include processing and preparing fish for consumption, building boats, nets and other fishing equipment, and conducting ecosystem and wildlife research. The agriculture sector, which depends upon clean soil and water and a stable climate, employs 70 percent of Uganda's labourforce. Protecting the environment means protecting Ugandan opportunities for economic mobility and increased quality of life.
“Protecting the environment means protecting Ugandan opportunities for economic mobility & increased quality of life.”
In order to realize IGEN-EA’s vision for a green and inclusive economy, support from policymakers and financial investors is critical. Increased investments in sustainable sectors offer essential resources to farmers, tourism leaders, fishermen and others—this may include supporting more staffing, satisfying equipment needs or enabling pursuits for expansion. Moreover, governmental and donor support in clean energy will welcome creativity and innovation that can spur sector growth, providing more jobs and livelihoods to Ugandans that can last well into the future. Investment in Uganda’s natural landscapes will help the tourism industry, small businesses and communities restore and expand their important role in Uganda’s economy.
Today, we celebrate World Environment Day because we know that protecting East Africa’s environment is an economic imperative. Together, we call for support and investment in IGEN-EA’s vision for a sustainable and inclusive green economy in Uganda and across East Africa.