UGANDA CITIZENS’ CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES FOR THE

ATTENTION OF THE 64TH COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY

CONFERENCE

Background

We are aware that the 63rd CPC in 2018 discussed the growing concern of
climate change. They then called for urgent action to mitigate the phenomenon,
reduce vulnerability and increase resilience including enhanced participation of
young people in climate action. The conference initiated some programmes to
this effect which include; supporting member countries with climate finance,
youth participation, putting in place relevant legislation and ocean governance.

Despite these actions there have been little action and responses in supporting
the building of resilience of the people of the Commonwealth to climate change
and hence climate change related disasters have become ‘normal’ for the people
of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Caribbean continues to be devastated by hurricanes with

devastating effects including most recently in the Bahamas that has caused
enormous loss and damage to livelihoods and assets. In the same way, the East
and Horn of Africa (including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Commonwealth
countries are endlessly grappling with food shortages and relying on food aid
due to increased crop loss caused by droughts, floods and landslides that are
occurring in the region.

In the same way, Commonwealth countries for example, India and Uganda
continue to struggle with massive air pollution in their fast growing cities. This
has increased rapidly due to population growth, increase in the number of
vehicles that heavily rely on fossil fuels, large scale charcoal burning and use,
poorly planned transportation systems, and poor land use patterns. For example,
the World Health Organisation (WHO) has previously reported that people in
Uganda are more likely to die from air pollution than those in Tanzania,
Rwanda, and twice as likely as those in Kenya, figures from the World Health
Organization (WHO) show. Burden of disease (mortality and morbidity)
attributable to air pollution in Uganda has been on the rise in recent
years. Kampala, Uganda's capital has the second worst air in Africa, according
to the AirVisual's 2018 World Air Quality Report.

Commonwealth member countries are choking on single-use plastics with

visible failures in waste management, ineffective enforcement of legislation on
plastics. The dangers of these of these single-use plastics are numerous. They
include consumption by animals, clogging of trenches and pollution of water
bodies and farm lands.

Our Demands

It is in this regard that as Uganda Citizens of the Commonwealth, we would like

to request the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to take up the
following proposals for a more sustainable Commonwealth:

 We call upon the 64th CPC to consider the establishment of a

Commonwealth Climate Fund to focus specifically on adaptation and
building resilience of vulnerable member countries.

 Agree and set a target and timeframe to transition to 100% renewable

energy supply across the entire Commonwealth (or set in motion a process
toward this a minimum). .

 We demand for the establishment and institute Commonwealth

Parliamentary Climate change tribunals across the Commonwealth to give a
voice to those most affected and exploring how governments and
corporations could be held accountable. This will also enable citizens to
openly and honestly discuss with their respective legislators about climate
change challenges, how to resolve national and local climate change related
disputes as well as promoting indigenous knowledge and technologies.

 We call for urgency for a full ban on importation and manufacture of all
single-use plastic in the entire Commonwealth and effective enforcement of
 such ban by governments at both national and local levels. We call for a
plastic free Commonwealth by the 65th CPC.

 The Commonwealth should consider investment in low-carbon transport to

cut carbon emission through observance of car-free days, regulation of the
auto trade and industry, promotion of Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) and
a rapid mass transport system and promotion of green and clean cities.

For more Information please contact:

1. Miriam Talwisa – National Coordinator, Climate Action Network

Uganda, Email; mtalwisa@yahoo.com Tel: +256704908385

2. Godfrey Onentho – Policy Manager, Caritas Uganda Email:

gonentho97@gmail.com Tel: +256772535266

3. Kimbowa Richard – Programme Manager, Uganda Coalition for

Sustainable Development, rkimbowa@ugandacoalition.or.ug Tel:
+256772457465