By Mulengera Reporters
At the recent 8th Uganda Water and Environment Week 2025 (UWEWK 2025) organised by the Ministry of Water and Environment, at it’s headquarters in Luzira, Kampala, Dr. Antonio Querido, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Country Representative in Uganda, emphasized the critical need for collective action to combat climate change.
Drawing from his extensive background in environmental systems and agronomy, Dr. Querido highlighted the urgency of addressing global warming and preserving vital ecosystems.
“Collectively, we need to take action to reduce global warming, melting of glaciers, and to continue to preserve our forests,” he asserted, underscoring the interconnectedness of these environmental challenges.
Dr. Querido also stressed the importance of early warning systems in enhancing community resilience against climate-related disasters. “Our survival is highly dependent on how accurately we can predict and act early. Therefore, early warning systems are vital if we are to adapt and mitigate the consequences of climate change,” he noted.
Under his leadership, FAO Uganda has been proactive in supporting the government to establish practical facilities aimed at improving household livelihoods at the community level. These initiatives focus on ensuring both accessibility and sustainability, reflecting FAO’s commitment to bolstering agricultural adaptation to climate change.
Notably, the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) project, now in its second phase (2018–2023) with €8 million funding from the European Union, aims to scale up agricultural adaptation efforts, enabling rural households to become more resilient to climate change effects and food insecurity by promoting sustainable and gender-transformative actions.
Dr. Querido’s extensive experience includes serving as Chief Technical Advisor at the FAO Representation in Angola from 2016 to October 2018, and as Dean of the Science and Technology Department at the University of Cabo Verde, Praia, from 2008 to 2010. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science-Agronomy from the University of California, Davis, USA, a Master’s Degree in Environmental System Analysis and Monitoring from ITC, Enschede in the Netherlands and a PhD in Tropical Plant and Soil Science from the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, USA.
His insights at UWEWK 2025 serve as a crucial reminder of the pressing need for collaborative efforts to address climate change and safeguard environmental resources for future generations.
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