This year’s CoP30 will be held in Brazil from November 10th to 21st, 2025 focusing on a series of matters relating to Global stock Take, Sharm el-Sheikh mitigation ambition and implementation work programme, United Arab Emirates just transition work programme, Matters relating to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: work programme under the framework for non-market approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 8, of the Paris Agreement and matters relating to the clean mechanism development.

In preparation for this pivotal global event, the Environment and Natural Resources Civil Society Organization Network (ENR-CSO Network), in collaboration with the Climate Action Network Uganda (CAN-U) and the Government of Uganda, convened a high-level engagement earlier this week at the Home of Environmental Alert in Kabalagala. The meeting aimed at streamlining Uganda’s negotiators on key issues of climate change mitigation, ensuring the country’s delegation is well-prepared to contribute effectively to the discussions and outcomes at COP30.

“Climate Change Mitigation refers to Human intervention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase greenhouse sinks and the case of Uganda, our major greenhouse gas emission arises from the loss of natural carbon stock, followed by emissions in transport, and others in the waste industry. If we reduce emissions in transport and arrest the loss of forest cover and replant, then we are doing mitigation.” Engineer. Dr. Mackay Okure said while addressing the Civil Society Organization Climate Change Mitigation Working Group.

Dr. Mackay also mentioned that the objective of this mitigation is to stabilize the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause global Warming and eventually cause climate change, which is in the long term and defined as extreme weather events, which are on a daily basis.

According to Dr. Mackay Okure, emphasized that “Climate Mitigation negotiations are about the Science of Climate Change and its implications, so if science says that because of ABCD, then we must mitigate, and this requires us to always review the science despite the fact that some people do not want to believe the science.”

He also noted that the second priority is to strategize on measures to minimize and manage emissions, with a focus on the long-term implications of current efforts to reduce or stabilize them. He further noted that, under mitigation, the goal is also to mobilize and coordinate party plans, including actions, emission reports, and other relevant mitigation initiatives.

In a renewed effort to boost the protection of carbon sinks, Mitigation negotiators, communities, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are set to undergo comprehensive sensitization on forest crimes.

 “Our contribution towards carbon sinks is most likely to be great and bottom line is that our community sensitization, everyone even civil social society organizations will be sensitized about forest crime because many of us may not know what forest crimes are, how we rank them, what the reporting channels are and who is responsible and because of this our capacity will be built to confidently be able to write about Forest crime and everyone will be brought on table.” The Programs Manager at Environmental Alert, Carolyne Kirabo, said while addressing Mitigation Negotiators ahead of CoP30.

Established Facts.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world; however, a significant portion remains unemployed. This unemployment challenge has driven many people to depend heavily on natural resources, particularly wetlands and forests, for survival through activities such as extraction and cultivation. While this dependence exerts pressure on the environment, it also presents a unique opportunity to design sustainable livelihood options that bridge the existing income and employment gap, ensuring both economic empowerment and environmental conservation thrive together.

The Environment and Natural Resources Civil Society Organization Network and partners will be leading the Youth and Women Action Against Forest Crime project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at combating illegal activities threatening the country’s forests. The project, funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), seeks to empower young people and women to take a leading role in protecting and restoring forest ecosystems.

Through the support of UNODC’s advanced crime-tracking systems, Uganda is set to strengthen its capacity to detect, report, and respond to forest-related offenses. The initiative will also build community awareness on the impacts of forest crime and promote active participation in conservation efforts.

By equipping youth and women with knowledge and tools to fight forest crime, the project is paving the way for sustainable forest management and contributing to Uganda’s broader efforts to restore its natural heritage.