Adoption of climate change mitigation measures :

Abstract

Climate is changing at an alarming rate. Warming of the climate system is evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level. The study aimed to assess the extent to which biogas. use is an alternative energy source to climate change mitigation in Bugisu sub region. The specific objectives of the study were to; Explore the contributing factors to climate change in Bugisu sub-region, Find out the various climate change mitigation measures present the Bugisu sub-region, Establish the contribution of biogas use to climate change mitigation in Bugisu sub-region and Examine the factors affecting the use of biogas as a climate Change mitigation measure Bugisu sub-region. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 300 respondents selected purposively from Bugisu sub-region. The qualitative data were collected from technocrats (councilors and environmental/ Natural resources officer). The findings of' the study show that Industrialization, Overgrazing, Poor environmental planning, Deforestation, Poverty, Slash and Burn, were found to be the contributing factors of climate change in Bugisu sub-region and then mining activities and use of fertilizer do not contribute significantly to climate change, Renewable energy technologies and afforestation are significant mitigation measures to climate change while Hydroelectricity, Land use change and Solid waste management, have no significant use effect in climate change mitigation in Bugisu sub region. Biogas was found to be an alternative to fuel wood and charcoal and led to a reduction in the rate of deforestation in Bugisu sub region. It was also observed that biogas use has got enormous contribution to eliminate change mitigation. It leads to a reduction in CHG its eco-friendly and produces high quality organic fertilizer in form of bioslutry. When well maintained, biogas reduces wastes taken to landfills. Finally, additional work to operate the biogas and inadequate feedstock were found to affect the use of biogas in Bugisu sub region. High maintenance cost and installation cost, smell, cultural taboo, limited awareness, and biogas not being economically viable, Biogas plant failures do not affect biogas use in Bugisu sub region. The study recommends that basic training in biogas technology should be introduced to vocational institutions, research in alternative feed materials for biogas and stake holder involvement in promotion and marketing of biogas have been proposed to increase biogas uptake in the region and beyond.