Ugandan MPs Advocate for Youth Inclusion in Regional Climate Action

The Parliament of Uganda recently hosted the inaugural East African Community (EAC) Children Summit for Climate Change, a landmark event where Members of Parliament (MPs) strongly advocated for the meaningful inclusion of children in addressing climate-related issues.

The Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC), Hon. Susan Abeja, emphasized that while children are the least contributors to climate change, they are among the most severely affected by its consequences. “Children are experiencing the consequences of environmental degradation, floods, droughts and other climate-related emergencies… they must be meaningfully involved in shaping the solutions,” she stated during the summit held under the theme “Children Leading East African Integration: Climate, Peace and Prosperity.”

Echoing these sentiments, Nakasongola County MP, Hon. Ivan Kyeyune, urged adults to re-evaluate their priorities, citing the detrimental impact of commercialized farming and industrial development in ecologically sensitive areas. He encouraged young participants to take initiative by planting trees within their communities.

Representatives from UNICEF Uganda and the Ministry of Water and Environment also addressed the summit. UNICEF’s Chief of WASH, Environment and Climate Change, Lalit Patra, called on MPs to make concrete climate action commitments within their constituencies and to establish youth climate groups. Dr. Flavia Byekwaso from the Ministry of Water and Environment stressed the importance of consulting children in policy formulation and highlighted the need for climate-resilient infrastructure in schools and public facilities.

The summit concluded with a “Climate Champions Weekend” focused on practical environmental action, including a tree-planting exercise.

Source: Parliament of Uganda