Speaker Oboth Urges Measurable Climate Action Over Statistics

Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth has called for a shift from theoretical discussions to concrete, measurable actions in addressing the escalating climate crisis. Speaking at the Third CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting and High Level Dialogue on Green Economy and Environmental Sustainability, Oboth highlighted the severe destruction of livelihoods and infrastructure caused by environmental shocks.

He stressed the need for leaders to translate discussions into actionable outcomes, noting that the period between 2015 and 2025 has been the warmest on record globally. In Uganda, this has manifested as increased landslides, overflowing rivers, unpredictable rainfall, and prolonged droughts, all of which threaten agriculture and national economic progress.

During his keynote address, themed “Accelerating Uganda’s Green Economy Transition through Digital Transformation,” Oboth committed Parliament’s full support for necessary legislation, budgets, and oversight to bolster climate action. He advocated for immediate investments in forest and wetland protection, land restoration, and the utilization of digital technologies for environmental monitoring and resource management.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change, Hon. Henry Aggrey Bagiire, affirmed Parliament’s readiness to convert political will into tangible results. Meanwhile, Fred Otunnu from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) pointed out the ICT sector’s own environmental footprint, noting that its energy consumption could double by 2030 and that the sector globally contributes significantly to carbon emissions.

Sanusi Tejan Savage of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) emphasized that green initiatives must prioritize vulnerable populations, including refugees and rural communities, commending Uganda’s leadership on the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change (KDMECC). Dr. Robin Nandi from UNICEF underscored the importance of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) as a fundamental component of climate resilience, identifying gaps in these services as major obstacles.

Source: Parliament of Uganda