National Climate Change Act 2021

The Climate Change Act governs Uganda's national response to climate change. One of the stated purposes of the Act is to give effect to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement and Section 4 gives these agreements the force of law in Uganda.

The Act mandates the creation of a Framework Strategy on Climate Change, as well as a National Climate Action Plan and District Climate Action Plans. It also contains a series of provisions establishing a transparency framework and MRV system.

Section 9 of the Act permits the Minister responsible for Climate Change matters to develop further regulations regarding participation in climate change mechanisms such as emissions trading mechanisms, and section 23 allows the Minister to make further regulations regarding the responsibilities of private entities.

Part V of the Act relates to the institutional arrangements for governing climate change, creating a National Climate Change Advisory Committee to provide independent technical advice and clarifying the responsibilities of District and local governments with respect to climate change.

Article 26 concerns climate change litigation, containing broad provisions on standing to bring cases before the High Court against the Government, an individual, or private entity "whose action or omission threatens or is likely to threaten efforts towards adaptation to or mitigation of climate change".