Mercury Pollution: A growing environmental health risk in Uganda.

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. The Convention is named after the Japanese city Minamata symbolizing the devastating incident the city went through of mercury poisoning. This Convention is a result of three (3) years of meeting and negotiating, later adopted by 140 countries on 19 January 2013 in Geneva. It is envisaged to enhance the reduction of mercury pollution from the targeted activities responsible for release of mercury to the immediate environment.

Uganda is signatory to the Minamata Convention but yet to ratify it. Positively, some actions are being done at National level to address mercury pollution, for example, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is implementing a project on the development of Minamata Convention on Mercury initial assessment in Africaaimed at facilitating the ratification and early implementation of the Minamata Convention whilst providing key national stakeholders with scientific, technical knowledge and tools needed to support the ratification of the Convention.

Noting continued indiscriminate dumping and burning of toxic waste(composed of nickel/cad-mium compounds), due to weak legislation on pollution, Uganda risks worsening levels of heavy metal pollution.With the increasing heavy metals presence has been noted in Lake  Victoria  with main sources being  industrial and  domestic  waste  as  well  as  small-scale  gold  mining activities that continue to use Mercury. 

It is worth noting that early ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury provides an opportunity for the global community to address this mounting problem before it gets worse contributing to reduction in mercury pollution from the specific human activities responsible for the most significant mercury releases to the environment.

According to UNEP, Mercury releases from Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is estimated to be about 1400 tonne/year. At national level, NEMA estimates total annual mercury releases in society at 26.4 tonne/year with high concentrations in air, water and land. The current Mercury stockpiles include cement production, incineration of hazardous waste, imported cosmetics and related products and dental Mercury amalgam fillings. It should be noted that Mercury to amalgamate gold is mostly smuggled into Uganda and supplied by Gold buyers to small scale artisanal miners all over the country.

Myriad by multiplicity of Conventions, complicity of the Mining sector coupled with limited information on ASGM, Uganda risks acute environmental health risks associated with heavy metal pollution such as Mercury.

However, steps are being taken to address such related challenging. One such step is the development of Mercury Initial Assessment Communication Strategy for Uganda. However, for the strategy to benefit the country, it should be linked to Vision 2040 so as to achieve a more employable and productive economy for increased productivity.

Addressing Mercury pollution should be holistic and follow an integrated approach where issues relating to supply and trade of mercury must be addressed first.

Complied by; Peninah Atwine
Fellow at EMLI Bwaise Facility

CLEAN AND GREEN MAKES PERFECT SCENE!

Tree planting at Fairway High School in Kazo.

Environment means the surrounding of man i.e. wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers. Environment has a great contribution on the livelihood of man. However, in Uganda the environment is over strained due to human activities, for example the natural forests, wetlands and rivers hence has been encroached on by man in the disguise of development and looking for settlement, land for agriculture and construction of roads among others.

Attempts have been done to reverse the situation by both public and Government of Uganda a case in point is the concluded cleaning exercise done in Wakiso district, Kazo parish in different schools (Kazo mixed primary school, Fairway high school and Kazo Islamic primary school) under the theme Promoting Hygiene, Sanitation and Environmental Protection as the following stood out as key good practices in environmental management.

Sanitation and environmental protection is a key factor today in environmental management. This can be done through general cleaning exercises in the community, for example in schools that can involve waste and garbage collection, , toilets and urinals, tree planting to protect from extinct environment and environmental education. 

Coordination/joint effort among stakeholders i.e. community members, schools, organizations and others is very key in promoting environmental protection as it helps to build social responsibility amongst community members in realizing a common goal.

Sanitation and environmental protection is a challenge mostly in highly populated schools such as in UPE schools that have limited social responsibility. Authorities such as schools, locals and others should become more visible here to save the environment and promote sanitation. For example during a cleanup exercise in schools around Kazo Parish, as the Director of Fairway High school commended the youth of Kazo Youth Players Association (KYPA) for the work and effort they do in promoting hygiene, sanitation and environmental governance in the area.

  

Waste management and environmental education are critical in environmental governance and ensuring proper sanitation. Through sensitization, establishment of environmental clubs, tree planting, promoting good sanitation and proper waste management, we can ensure living in a clean and disease free environment from children. Technical guidance on environment protection and also providing IEC materials to schools during such activities will also lead to continuous spread of the information.

In a nutshell promoting good environmental governance and preserving the Ecosystem in schools, neibouring communities and the country at large will make a “CLEAN AND GREEN PERFECT SCENE.”

Potential for a carbon tax in Uganda

It is rare to post some of our conversations with cross-postings to TAX Agencies. But since Uganda is drafting her first National Climate Change Law and also reviewing the National Environment Act (1995). I am tempted to share some thoughts building from an expert exchange reflecting proposed "James Hansen-Carbon Tax" under the Trump Administration. 

Sometime back in 2012 during the formulation of the National Climate Change Policy, one colleague expressed concern on nascent legal and policy regime in Uganda with minimal contribution to tax base but gross utilization of small resources collected through difficult inequitable tax measures. This trickled my mind and tried to work out a process on resource mobilization under the Climate Change Policy, however it did not work out.

Recently, I was engaged in an expert online discussion for thinkers in global financing frameworks and pricing emissions. The basic fact for establishment of economic instruments in environment & natural resources since Rio(1992) was to influence behaviour i.e. consumption and production patterns. Over the years, Governments have established tax systems (always inequitable) and also followed a disturbing practice though surprising agreed on in Agenda 21 commonly known as 'Polluter Pay Principle' in otherwise a policy infused with a fee on the right to pollute.

For example, the duty on importation of second hand vehicles which have continued to be a source of severe environmental health problems with possible correlation to the current cancer issues. Interesting, the fees collected have always been consolidated in our beloved Consolidated Fund and appropriated through the budgeting process. This has ameliorated our environmental challenges. 

Going forward, every year MoFPED and her agencies such as URA develop new taxes to commensurate our budget needs (now taking of UGX 30 trillion). The question is would a carbon tax be a safe haven for MoFPED & URA to induce tax proposals? Noting that previous tax increments on selected products such as fuel have grossly affected low income earners who rely on public (un-regulated transport) with fares bouncing like a beam under Cathode ray oscilloscope. In US, Portland State University completed an economic study a couple of years ago (when gasoline was $4.00 / gallon) which determined that behavior change at that price point would require at least $100/ton, thus $1.00/gallon at the pump thus concluding that "elasticity" in spending behavior is relevant.

The second question is what tax level should induce behaviour shift of the magnitude to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions? But before responding, one legislator might shut you down that you are killing investments and making doing business in Uganda difficult. Hima Cement factory and others might come-up and use all tactics to offset you.

In US, an opinion survey was cited as a game changer on tax matters. Imagine we tested appetite for taxes and alternative means to reduce emissions by 22 percent by 2030 (Uganda Commitment under UN Convention on Climate Change). Sometime an opinion survey was ran on whether people should pay for some services in Mulago and a significant number was in favour. With the current extreme weather and climate shocks all over the country, I guess the public would support any instrument to address climate change in Uganda.

Therefore, for any new tax, MUST win public acceptance. Unfortunately, in the USA, there is limited support for the James Hansen style, who promotes a carbon tax and some analysts find the Republican proposal a calculated non-starter. Interesting a growing majority is supporting a 'cap, fee and invest' type of program.

I would rally for that too. Let me be exemplary, If the Public (currently) supports a definitive reduction of greenhouse gases, then administer an fee for emissions ascribed to top emitters (such as business contributing to GHG emission from sectors like Mining, Cement production, transport (road & aviation), construction) and design consumer protection measures, then invest  those fees in emission reducing public investment plans like 'SGR', afforestation, renewable energy projects and matching costs for electricity generation and consumption. 

Basing on simple projections while keeping other factors constant, we can mobilize the required USD 1.8 billion for green growth (see Economics of Green growth study done by MoFPED & GGGI) and attract at least USD 10 from international finance institutions for every USD 1 spent under the PFMA. 

What are your views???

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT NOT A BLAME GAME!!!

A discussants cross section on the NEA ACT at Acode.

Environmental management is key in economic and social wellbeing. Environment means the surrounding of man i.e. wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers. Environment has a great contribution on the livelihood of man. However, in Uganda the environment is over strained for example the natural forests, wetlands and rivers have been encroached on by man in the disguise of development and looking for livelihood ‘‘ eating now is a priority over saving the environment’’. Following a talk show on Inner man Radio 107.5 FM under the topical discussion on environment, the following issues were discussed;

As Uganda’s population is increasing, currently estimated at 40 million people, a lot is left to be desired especially in terms of livelihood and urban waste management. Man has been impelled to clear wetlands and forests in search for livelihood. However, despite the dilemma sustainable growth and development is still needed, environmentalists and other stakeholders have come up with models and policies that will contribute to promotion of a sustainable economy i.e. the green growth model which looks at inclusive growth and development. Policies on environmental protection have been formulated and approved but their implementation has been and is still a major challenge due to limited or no coordination amongst stakeholders.

Despite the role of authorities and environmental bodies / organisations and the blame that comes when their responsibilities are not realised in environmental protection, coordination/ joint effort among stakeholders i.e. community members, government and private institutions is very key. There is need for political will to allow effective policy implementation and law enforcement, need for social/ community responsibility to protect and comply with laws and mind set change i.e knowing that as one clears the forests for agriculture today, tomorrow he/she will need the rain in crop growth thence important to plant trees whenever one tree is cut for any livelihood or development activity.

Waste management is an urban challenge that is aggravated by the limited social responsibility. Local authorities should become more visible here to save the environment from waste pollution especially in the trade areas, community members need to be mindful about the environment in which they live, they should be responsible in promoting good waste disposal since they are the primary generators. Coordinated effort and support to adopt new technologies in environmental management for example use of energy saving cook stoves at both household and institutional level should be encouraged and use of briquettes in waste management. These innovations are not only environmentally friendly but also economically friendly as they promote saving on the cost that would be spent on buying charcoal or fire wood.

Therefore, effective environmental management, needs coordinated effort among stakeholders at all levels other than being a blame game.