Earth Day 2021 was commemorated in April 22, 2021 under the theme: ’Restore the Earth’. According to EarthDay.org, Climate change and other environmental degradations have broken our natural systems, leading to new and fatal diseases as well as a breakdown of the global economy. But just as climate change and coronavirus painfully remind us of the harm wehave caused, Restore Our Earth reminds us of the opportunities that lay ahead.

Food waste reduction offers multi-faceted wins for people and planet, improving food security, addressing climate change, saving money and reducing pressures on land, water, biodiversity and waste management systems. Yet this potential has until now been woefully under-exploited. According to the UN, once the scale of food waste is known, it will be easier to come up with potential solutions, such as turning waste into animal feed or fertilizer.

Catalogue of Local Sustainable Solutions to fill existing Knowledge Gap’ – Tanzania Ministry of Energy

Joint Energy and Environment Projects (JEEP) and Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development as part of the East African Civil Society for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action (EASE-CA) Project, held two customized Social Media Training Workshop for Youths and Coalition Members (over 40 in total) on January 27 and 28 2021 at JEEP Folkecenter – Kyanja (Kampala). The training was in support of efforts to popularize the Catalogue of Local Sustainable Solutions in East Africa that was launched in December 2020. It sought to popularize the local sustainable energy and other sustainable development solutions (best practices in technical solutions, financing models, business models) amongst participants, through use of the

This catalogue seeks to popularize the local sustainable energy and other sustainable development solutions (best practices in technical solutions, financing models, business models). The EASE CA Project also involves SusWatch Kenya and TaTEDO in Tanzania; as well as the INFORSE secretariat and the
Nordic Folk center for Renewable Energy in Denmark. In Uganda, JEEP & UCSD showed case sustainable energy and climate solutions and their potentials to address climate change problems and increasing energy scarcity through local action. JEEP is already promoting some of these solutions country-wide, for example in Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Nebbi that are empowering local communities to get access to clean energy and improved livelihoods in an economic and climate friendly way.

Electric Cooking (ecook) using efficient electric cooking appliances such as pressure cookers, is gaining ground as an approach to address the above challenges. In particular the promising complement of mini-grid electricity (electrical generation systems of less than 10MW that serve customers through local distribution networks) to the traditional central grid, can help countries meet electricity access targets faster and, in some cases, more cost-effectively. An Ecooking pressure cooker can cook food faster through various cooking operations such as frying, boiling, steaming and baking. Hence it saves time, cost saving and secures safety in operation.

The detection of cancer in David Nkwanga’s Mum (who later died in 2012) was devastating, but a turning point in his life to explore ways in which millions of women and girls who endure kitchen smoke each day, could be saved from this hazard. He saw this tragedy as an ‘opportunity’ to address the daily risks resulting from indoor air pollution. ‘It eventually led me to think: Aren’t there better and simple cook stoves that rural women could access and which could ensure their kitchens remain safe from indoor pollution?’, David pondered

On Thursday September 3, 2020 SusWatch Kenya launched a report on 100% Renewable Energy (RE) scenario in Kenya by 2050 as part of the East African Civil Society for Sustainable Energy and Climate Action (EASE&CA) Project that is being implemented in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The scenario for Kenya by 2050 was developed in collaboration with national and county governments, academia, private sector, NonState actors and others involved in implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7.

Environmental problems that are facing East Africa includeovergrazing,deforestation, water shortages, loss of biodiversity and urban-industrial pollution.Whileenvironmental authorities remain weak, Civil Society in the region lacksadequate resources and know-how to effectively intervene in promoting viable local solutions and influencingchange.As men and women are affected differently by these problems,taking a gender perspective into account in environmental policyand practice isequally critical.

Kenyan National Assembly on 23 June 2020, passed the 2020 Finance Bill that will result in the introduction of a 14% Value AddedTax (VAT)on off-grid solarproducts. Theadopted Bill removed the current VAT exemption for“specialized equipment for the development and generation of solar and wind energy, including deep cycle batteries which use or store solar powerupon the recommendation of the Cabinet Secretary responsible for matters relating to energy.”This in effect meant that, likely effective 1 July 2020, the status of solar equipment and accessories which were exempt would be subject to VAT at the rate of 14%.