Name: Martin Ojok
Position: Senior Climate Change Officer
Organization: Ministry of Water and Environment in Uganda
My name is Martin Ojok and I am from Uganda.
In my country, climate change is something we take very seriously. Uganda just like the rest of the world is facing the impacts of climate change like the continued landslides in Eastern Uganda (Bududa) and the bursting of the shore of river Nyamwamba in Kasese, where recently due to heavy rains, many people lost lives, property and livelihood. .
In response to address some of the above effects, an institution to coordinate all climate change actions both at international and national level as well as having a national policy and an act to guide in addressing climate change are some of the initiatives put in place.
When did you start working in climate action?
I started working on climate action during my days when I was at the university pursuing my bachelors in 2009 and carried on when I joined the Ministry of Water and Environment as an employee after my graduation.
What motivated you?
Being an environmentalist, I have always had the passion right when I joined the University to pursue my bachelor’s degree. The full commitment actually came into play when I joined as an employee in 2013 in the Ministry of Water and Environment-Uganda. Step by step I am getting fully grounded in actions which address the impacts of climate change both at national and globally.
What will be your role at the COP26?
To participate in the technical negotiation meetings by following Adaptation and vulnerability as well as coordinating the Ugandan delegation at the COP26.
What are your expectations for COP26?
To begin with, this is a very important COP where concrete actions in addressing climate change where commitments from the member states to the KP, PA and the convention are required. Hopefully all the decisions resulting from this year’s COP will be honoured which will help us in achieving to well below 2℃, world temperature goal under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
What outcomes would you consider important for a successful COP?
For this year’s COP to be considered successful, the funding for adaptation should be prioritized as the most vulnerable developing countries, such as the LDCs, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) suffer the most with the impacts of climate change. Also financial flows consistent with pathway towards low GHG emissions and climate resilient development, an example, as assessment was done to overview climate finance received in Uganda since 2010 which estimated about USD 1 billion coming from mainly bilateral sources such as EU.
Why is south-south cooperation important to you and your country?
South-South cooperation is one of the best ways for countries to explore and learn from each other in terms of experiences, the initiatives each one has and build relationships and partnerships as well. Capacity is built as a result in different areas like policy formulation, institutional set up among others, as well new technologies are adopted.