Climate change is real and it is catastrophic for all the ecosystems, including humans. The World Health Organization estimates that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year, from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress. Many people and communities that are most vulnerable to climate change effects and environmental degradation are those who are already poor and largely excluded from the rewards of global economic activity. Responsibility for human-caused climate change is also distributed unevenly, leaving the poor with limited capacity to address devastating climate events to suffer. Most historical emissions have been from the richest countries that have the most resources and capacity to adapt to rising temperatures. BiVA works closely with communities that are prone to climate events to strengthen their capacity to deal with destructive climate events.

Therefore, to the poor, it is not Real Zero Verses Net Zero but rather a total stop of anthropogenic emissions from entering the atmosphere. Countries are now in the process of submitting their updated under the Paris climate agreement. Uganda put in place its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which it also recently updated. Uganda’s NDC details the country’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. BiVA is well placed to lobby and advocate for the effective implementation of country’s NDC.