Govt urged to fast-track the passing of the Climate Change Bill

ENVIRONMENT|CLIMATE|PARLIAMENT 

KAMPALA - Parliament has been urged to fast-truck the passing of the Climate Change Bill 2018. Climate change activists on Tuesday reiterated that any delay in streamlining the legal framework on climate change will cost the country heavily in the near future.

They warned that the country risks losing $3.2b to $5.9 every decade due to climate change effects if appropriate actions are not taken.

This was during a media briefing on the progress of the Bill hosted by the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala yesterday.

The coordinator of the forum Christine Kaya said; "Uganda is already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change.

We are witnessing the rise in water levels with flush floods, the landslides and rising temperatures. We pray that the 10th Parliament passes the Bill into law before it ends."

The Bill drafted in 2018 is currently before the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change and  the committee is  expected to report back to Parliament  in the next  20 days ahead of the second reading.

The Bill is intended to establish an Act of Parliament to give the force of law in Uganda to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.

The Programme manager resilience at Building Flourishing Communities, said the passing of the Bill will be a perfect gesture to prove to the world that Uganda is willing, able and serious about delivering on its promises and commitments.

"The Covid-19 pandemic highlights the need to act early and a head of crises.

We are already seeing climate and weather related shocks hit the country such as the rising water levels in Lake Victoria, the mudslides in the Elgon region, flooding in Kasese among others," she said.

Compared to other African countries, Uganda ranks high in its number of commitments regarding action on climate change and environmental protection.

For instance in 2015, the country launched its national climate change policy. It also developed and endorsed its Nationally Determined Contribution Partnership Plan (NDC-PP) in June 2018.

In its NDC, Uganda has committed to reducing its emissions by 22% by 2030 with actions focused on energy, forestry and wetlands.

The chairperson of Parliament's committee on climate change, Lawrence Songa said; "We are hopeful when the Bill is tabled in Parliament for second reading, it will be accepted."