The need for urgent measures to avert the climate change crisis the world is currently facing, has topped the agenda at the ongoing World Leaders Summit during the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Climate Change in Glasgow, UK.
In a statement by President Yoweri Museveni, to the summit, the President highlighted a number of “irresponsible and sometimes greedy human actions” that have led to damaging the environment.
He cited the depletion of forests, wetlands as well as the role of big emitters of greenhouse gases among the factors exacerbating the problem.
President Museveni underscored the link between socio-economic transformation and environmental protection
“If you conserve under-development, you should forget about conserving the environment… Therefore, let the world banish greed, ignorance, irresponsibility and rebelliousness, save our planet and use our greater knowledge to ensure affluence for all the people of the world,” Museveni said.
He called for a correct balance in sustainable use of natural resources.
The two day summit is being hosted by UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and over 120 world leaders including US President Joe Biden, many African Heads of State and the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In his speech, Boris urged world leaders to make the bold commitments needed to avoid a “doomsday” scenario which could become a reality in the near future unless urgent action is taken.
“The longer we fail to act, the worse it gets and the higher the price when we are eventually forced by the catastrophe to act” he warned.
He emphasized that it was possible to significantly cut emissions and plant billions of trees, saying it is the way to restore the balance of nature and fix carbon in the air.
He stressed that developed countries should support mitigation and adaptation initiatives in developing countries, adding “we have a duty now to find those funds-$100 billion a year that was promised in Paris by 2020 but which we won’t deliver until 2023.”
The main objective of COP26 which is scheduled from 31 October -12 November 2021 is to get commitments aimed at reducing emissions in order to keep global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius as agreed in the Paris Agreement of 2015 on Climate Change.
Uganda’s delegation at the Summit is led by Hon. Beatrice Anywar the Minister of State for Environment.
Also participating is Rt Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Alfred Okidi, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Environment.
H.E. Julius Peter Moto Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E Adonia Ayebare Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Honourable Members of Parliament, Senior officials, representatives of NGOs, the private sector and civil society.
