ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 8, Issue 4, pp: (53-61), Month: October - December 2020, Available at: www.researchpublish.com
THE CONTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION ON EFFICIENT USE OF WOODFUEL ENERGY IN ALEBTONG LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1
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Moses Omara, 2Dr. David mwesigwa
Student - Bachelor of Public Administration and Management, Faculty of Management science, Lira University – Uganda
Senior lecturer – Discipline of Public Administration and Management, Faculty of Management science, Lira University – Uganda
Abstract: Community sensitisation influences not only public policy direction but the general behaviour of an individual or group or a community in a number of settings. This article examines how community sensitisation contributes to efficient use of wood fuel energy in a rural community in northern Uganda. We rely on primary data collected from Amugu Sub County, Alebtong district where majority of the members in the community relies heavily on wood fuel for household energy requirements. Our results reveal that community sensitisation through mass media, training and dialogue meetings has the potential to lead to efficient use of wood fuel energy in the area of study and beyond. however, the success of these strategies require frequent dialogue meeting with the local leaders and community members of Amugu Sub County on a monthly basis; training of the communities on efficient use of wood fuel energy as the majority reported having not participated in any training and the government to subsidise cost for radio talk shows on efficient use of wood fuel energy. Keywords: Wood fuel, dialogue meetings, community sensitisation, mass media.
1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY One of the greatest sectors which impacts a lot on the environment contributing to climate change worldwide is energy. According to the National Research Council (2010), energy is a dominant source of carbon dioxide emissions and several other releases which impact on climate change. Efforts to reduce the dangerous emissions into the atmosphere can be through efficient use of different sources of energy as well as economic subsidies as well as targeted decision making as factors that impact negatively on atmospheric pollution. Aware of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that envisage a future which would not only be free from poverty and hunger but be safe from the negative effects of climate change, this article is opportune. Renewable and efficient energy offer a safe, reliable and affordable means to achieve massive de-carbonization consistent with keeping the rise in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius. The combination of renewable energy, efficient energy and increased electrification have the potential to achieve ninety percent of the reduction needed in energy-related emissions (IRENA’s analysis, 2019). Basing on this analysis, climate change is a global concern, which necessitates the attention of everyone and everywhere. It requires focus on efficient use of every source of energy aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions without any discrimination and or politics. In order to achieve this transformation, communities need continuous sensitisation. According to Sahid (2012), environmental awareness among individuals, organizations, and firms is an indicator of how communities and individuals respond to the negative impact on their surrounding environment.
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