KAMPALA - Youth climate activities have asked governments and development partners to increase funding towards the use of renewable energy on the African continent to mitigate climate change and its effects.

Youth say governments, especially those in the global north and development partners need to start looking at investing in renewable energies like solar, wind energy, hydroelectricity, and electric mobility, among others on the continent.

These explained that when they demand a sustainable and renewable future, it includes among others sustainable roads and cars that cater for everyone and have less emissions to the atmosphere.

Nicholas Omonuk, a climate change activist and co-founder, End Fossil Occupy Uganda demands for climate justice for people affected by the weather crisis during a press conference that was organised at Don Courts Gardens, Kiira Municipality in Wakiso districts. This was on April 29, 2023. (All Photos by Lawrence Mulondo)

The youth made the remarks during a press conference they organized to demand climate justice for people affected by the climate crisis at Don Courts Gardens in Kira Wakiso district on Saturday (April 29).

The youth argue that Africa is only responsible for 2 to 3% of the 86% of global carbon dioxide emissions, however, people on the continent are experiencing some of the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

These include floods, landslides, rising sea levels, and heat waves among others.

“The impacts of climate change in Africa are interconnected as one problem leads to the other. For example, people are losing their livelihood and as a result, children are dropping out of school leading to an increase in teenage pregnancies,” they all agreed.

Youth climate activists want governments, especially those in the global north and development partners to start looking at investing in renewable energies like solar, wind energy, hydroelectricity, and electric mobility, among others on the continent.

Nicholas Omonuk, a climate change activist and co-founder at End Fossil Occupy Uganda said governments and development partners need to stop funding fossil energy all over the globe in order to have a healthy sustainable future for everyone.

“We want energies that can ensure a future that can last forever, energies that cannot waste our biodiversity and those that can protect all the creatures on earth,” Omonuk emphasised.

He noted that so many minerals have been mined in Africa by foreign countries, a reason why they need to help the continent with resources to achieve renewable energy.

The activist noted that as the biggest contributors to carbon dioxide, the countries in the global north have to pay up for the loss and damage caused by climate change on the African Continent.

Omonuk said there is a need for the cancellation of debts that many countries in Africa are choking on, to enable them to divert the finances to funding renewable energies.

Importantly, he noted that once fossils are all exploited from the ground, many people are to lose their jobs proving how unsustainable their benefits are.

“If we invest in renewable energy we are likely to get so many sustainable jobs created like in manufacturing of electric cars, solar panels, charging points among others,” he added.

Evelyn Acham, a climate justice activist with Rise Up Movement pointed out that women walk long distances in search of water due to climate change, and as a result, cases of domestic violence are reported in communities.

She added that the country depends on agriculture and that weather patterns have been destroyed by climate change, leading to an increase in food prices.

“The poor people are impacted more by this climate crisis since they fail to afford food to feed their families leading to an increase in the crime rate,” Acham said.

“We cannot keep quiet as youth when communities and gardens are sinking in floods, when our people are dying of hunger as a result of climate change.”

Acham called for more funding to help people on the continent adapt to the impacts of climate change because they are less responsible for the crisis but are being impacted more.

Saad Ngabo, a climate change activist with special needs emphasized the need for safer and cleaner energies to protect and create a future for all.

Reagan Elijah the co-founder of Debt for Climate said there is a need for government commitment to a just transition from fossil to renewable energies.

“Our government should be a climate leader by supporting the renewable energy transition and ensuring that frontline communities are able to receive the resources needed to increase renewable energy.”

These now plan to move to schools to educate youth on the importance of renewable energies in the climate change fight with hopes that these will also spread the same in their communities for change.