Assessment of youth participation and activism in climate change actions in Kampala City. Case of Makerere University

Abstract

Climate change is one of the global developmental and environmental challenges threatening the existence of humanity and nature today. Different actions have been undertaken to mitigate and adapt to it in different parts of the world including Uganda. These actions include; tree planting, waste management and education, climate change campaigns, climate research and environmental education. However, given the growing population of Uganda with youths having the highest percentage (78%), these youths have not been so active and participative in the climate change actions. In Kampala City, the number of youths who are aware and participative in climate change actions is still low. The study explored youth participation and activism in climate change actions in Makerere University, Kampala City, Uganda. The study employed a survey research design with a sample size of 50 respondents which was obtained using a random sampling method for purposes of convenience and time. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques which included direct observation, key informant interviews and questionnaires. The questionnaires were used to collect data that was then coded, edited, entered and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists. Results indicated that tree planting and waste management and education were the most common climate change actions that the youths are aware of with percentages of 44% and 30% respectively while climate journalism and climate change research were the least known climate change actions with percentages of 9% and 17% respectively. Results indicated that most youths were not notified of climate change actions with percentages of 44% and those that were notified are mostly notified by the student leaders with a percentage of 22%. The analysis also indicated that most youths are aware of climate change actions with a percentage of 62%. However, majority of these youths did not participate in climate change actions, by a percentage of 56%. The study recommends that more sensitization and awareness creation should be done by especially youth led organizations on climate change to increase youth awareness about climate change actions. The study also recommends that climate change course should be introduced in all colleges of the university to improve on youth knowledge about climate change and its actions.