Climate Change is one of those concerns that most people in Uganda thought it was far – fetched and was not close to us as it ought to be.
Of late, with the unpredictable weather changes that are categorized by long dry spells, torrent rainfalls among others, the matter is getting close than we thought it was.
In this regard, the French Embassy in Uganda together with Girls for Climate Action and other partners organized a dialogue tagged as *Climate Cafe* ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference ( UNOC 25) that will take place in Nice, France to be co- hosted with Costa Rica
The youth – centric conference shall take place from June 9- 13, 2025 aptly under the theme ” Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the Ocean”.
In his delivery speech, David Germain – Robin, acting head of cooperation and cultural affairs, French Embassy in Uganda said that they will have around 100 Heads of State and Governments converge in Nice, south of France, as well as tens of thousands of leaders, researchers, scientists, economic actors, activists and citizens from around the world for the conference.
” France’s aim is clear: Protecting our ocean through tangible action.
One in three people relies on the ocean for their livelihood, yet our ocean is in danger. Plastic pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification, rising sea levels and the destruction of marine ecosystems are gaining pace, as direct consequences of climate change and over exploitation of the marine resources. We must act now,
ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement on Climate, The “Nice Ocean Agreements” can form an international pact for the conservation and sustainable use of the Ocean, fully in line with the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015″. Germain- Robin added.
” The ocean is our common good. It feeds and protects our people. It makes us dream and travel. It provides us with sustainable energy, trade, resources and infinite scientific knowledge.
Even if Uganda is landlocked and does not have access to the sea, Uganda benefits from the ocean and should therefore protect it. Most of its international exchanges transit by Mombasa and Dar-es-salem. And more important, the ocean provides all human beings on earth with more than 50% of the Oxygen we respire. It also absorbs 30% of the CO2, we produce and thus mitigate the impact of global warming”. Germain- Robin said.
Joanita Babirye, head of programs and strategy at Girls for Climate Action asserted that this conversation comes at a very prime time and as an entity they have been having campaigns in Jinja about the contamination of River Nile and you know it is a feeder to those big water bodies and very many people benefit from it.
Babirye also noted that fresh waters are being polluted and they need to hold those in charge accountable , raise their voices so that they can create awareness and gradually make change.
The country representative , International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN), Moses Egaru said that most of the trade comes from the sea and that is why we should participate and our neighbors have been very corporative and collaborative.
He also explained that oceans and seas are a source of trade, business, water, security and many others and as land locked countries it is important to take part since they are also employment and market opportunities across.
Egaru emphasized the importance of having the youth involved since the policies, discussions and implementation will affect them in the near future as the next generation to come.
He also advised on the relevance of having Environmental courts since most of these things are complex and are not easily understood by the ordinary court the way the Wildlife court has been set up and acted quick on their matters.
Hilda Flavia Nakabuye , Executive Director, Fridays for the Future Uganda stressed the need to involve the young people in the policy making so that they sink well in the implemention process they have been apart from inception to the bottom.
On behalf of National Association of Professionals Environmentalists( NAPE) , Shiba ,Ainomugisha, the legal officer highlighted the fact that since Uganda is a land locked country with the source of the Nile and its tributaries and other water bodies, any pollution done to them feeds into the oceans and seas gradually.
Shafiq Nedala, Co- founder, Mountain Innovation and Research Institute asserted that they need to reschedule the efforts to real zero -mile foot soldiers so that they can embrace any policies at the same time implement them.
He also stressed about the challenge of environmental data in the work they do since they are living in a data- driven era.
The half day dialogue was moderated by Horward Mwesigwa, EU Sounding board member and had interactive sessions with the audiences.
