ENGOS and scientists challenge the Swedish Energy Agency: stop supporting false climate change solutions in Uganda

The document criticizes the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) for supporting the Kachung Forest Project (CDM project #4653) in Uganda through a 20-year purchase agreement with Green Resources. The authors argue the project is flawed, causing environmental degradation through non-native eucalyptus and pine plantations and violating local community rights through evictions and livestock confiscation. They further challenge the project's carbon sequestration claims, suggesting it may be a net source of greenhouse gas emissions. Despite criticism, the SEA announced in March 2016 that it would remain engaged to improve community conditions, a move the authors claim supports a system of exploitation by the global North.

• The Kachung Forest Project (CDM project #4653) has caused environmental damage by destroying native grassland and savanna and introducing invasive non-native eucalyptus and pine trees that consume excessive water and alter soil chemistry.
• The project has negatively impacted the local community in Kachung, leading to loss of income, evictions, and the imprisonment or detention of residents, as well as the confiscation of livestock.
• There are significant doubts about the project's ability to sequester carbon, with evidence suggesting tree plantations generally have lower carbon pools than natural forests and that the Kachung project may be a net source of greenhouse gas emissions across its lifecycle.
• The carbon credit arrangement is viewed as exploitative because the credits are sold to rich countries like Sweden, preventing Uganda from using them to offset its own emissions while benefiting a polluting multinational corporation.
• The Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) signed a 20-year purchase agreement (2012-2032) with Green Resources and, despite suspending payments and facing pressure from NGOs and scientists, announced in March 2016 that it would not withdraw from the deal.
• The authors warn that the SEA's continued support for this project sets a dangerous precedent that could encourage further land-grabbing for tree plantations in the region.

APA

Tas, A., Lyons, K., Muramuzi, F., Lovera, S., Menne, W., & Nel, A. (2016). ENGOS and scientists challenge the Swedish Energy Agency: stop supporting false climate change solutions in Uganda. Carbon Market Watch. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2016/09/23/engos-and-scientists-challenge-the-swedish-energy-agency-stop-supporting-false-climate-change-solutions-in-uganda/

Chicago

Tas, Amanda, Kristen Lyons, Frank Muramuzi, Simone Lovera, Wally Menne, and Adrian Nel. ENGOS and scientists challenge the Swedish Energy Agency: stop supporting false climate change solutions in Uganda. Carbon Market Watch, 2016. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2016/09/23/engos-and-scientists-challenge-the-swedish-energy-agency-stop-supporting-false-climate-change-solutions-in-uganda/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Tas |first1=Amanda |last2=Lyons |first2=Kristen |last3=Muramuzi |first3=Frank |last4=Lovera |first4=Simone |last5=Menne |first5=Wally |last6=Nel |first6=Adrian |title=ENGOS and scientists challenge the Swedish Energy Agency: stop supporting false climate change solutions in Uganda |publisher=Carbon Market Watch |date=23 September 2016 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2016/09/23/engos-and-scientists-challenge-the-swedish-energy-agency-stop-supporting-false-climate-change-solutions-in-uganda/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{tas2016engos, author = {Tas, Amanda and Lyons, Kristen and Muramuzi, Frank and Lovera, Simone and Menne, Wally and Nel, Adrian}, title = {{ENGOS and scientists challenge the Swedish Energy Agency: stop supporting false climate change solutions in Uganda}}, publisher = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2016/09/23/engos-and-scientists-challenge-the-swedish-energy-agency-stop-supporting-false-climate-change-solutions-in-uganda/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }