Climate Change Street Art Exhibition – Uganda

This project aims to communicate information about the growing concern of climate change. This yearly public event has been bringing together the local population and key actors to develop responses to climate change threats in the Rwenzori region of Uganda. Since starting in 2012, the event has grown into a strong annual call for climate action.

Fast facts:

2013 event attracted more than 500 participants and 20 key players;
Mass media tools were employed to reach broader sections of the population;
Event doubled in size from 2012 to 2013.

The problem

Climate change in Uganda is expected to result in more intense rainfall, erratic rainy seasons and more frequent droughts. This will affect ecosystems and local populations particularly in urban areas. Since Uganda is a developing country with limited infrastructure and adaptation resources, the Ugandan population lacks access to information on the threats posed by climate change, as well as what can be done about it.

The solution

The annual Street Art Climate Change Exhibition in Fort Portal, Uganda, mobilises social entrepreneurs, the private sector, and local and regional governments to respond to climate change threats in the Rwenzori region. The 2013 exhibition, which focused on clean and efficient energy, attracted numerous key energy sector players, as well as the local population, with visual displays of climate change art, cost-efficient lighting and clean energy cooking technologies.

The event has the capacity to transform theoretical climate action benefits into reality. For example, the 2013 clean and efficient energy event evolved from a monitoring exercise to an activity that established a significant change in poor households’ energy needs by introducing the Lorena stove technology to a wider audience.

Helping the planet

Efforts undertaken in climate change awareness can help conserve natural resources by using them more efficiently, and reduce greenhouse emissions that are contributing to climate change. A special focus on regenerating the region’s ecosystems will also benefit the natural environment.

Helping people

The affordable technologies exhibited during the events were tested with targeted households to facilitate their transfer to vulnerable groups. Energy efficient technology is particularly equipped to address the practical needs of African urban populations.

Scaling up

The event has already expanded its local coverage. It moved from one street in 2012 to two streets in 2013, and employed mass media tools such as live radio broadcasts to reach out to a wider audience.