As different Countries grapple with the Corona Pandemic, a lot of attention, resources and energies have been diverted from other problems to the fight against the Pandemic. This is understandable given the raising number of deaths worldwide which has nowreached a staggering 65,000, with 1,134,000 infected and shows no signs of relenting. Though the attention is justified, it will be absolutely suicidal for us to quit the fight against prevailing Environmental problems especially Climate Change. Because, unlike the Covid19 virus which kills instantly, Climate Change kills gradually and in the long term we shall have millions killed and more displaced by the Climate Change. 4.2 million people die every year worldwide due to air pollution. In Uganda alone, 38 people have been killed by Floods and landslides in Bududa and Bundibugyo while 65,000 people have been displaced. As the medical fraternity searches for a vaccine, we should also focus attention on resolving these outstanding environmental issues because our nonchalance will cost us alot.
We should focus attention on finding answers to these pertinent questions:
1. How far have we gone in reducing Global Temperatures in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change?
2. How far have we gone in ensuring that we don’t get a repeat of the deadly Heat wave that roasted Europe in February 2019? What has the European Union done to address this problem?
3. What has the Australian Government restore Biodiversity lost in the recent Wildfires andwhat is it doing to ensure that such occurrence doesn’t happen again?
4. How are far are the greatest Carbon emitters (China and United States) gone in reducing their Carbon footprint?
We should therefore continue pursuing Climate Action with all the vigour that it deserves. We should continue asking tough questions to our Governments regarding their unfulfilled commitments. We should step up the campaign against Climate Change. Most importantly, we need to take up practical Climate Action. We should plant more trees, teach children more about tree planting, check deforestation and conserve existing trees and wetlands.
Prior to the COVID-19 era, Governments around the world had started committing themselves towards taking bold steps into resolving climate crises within their countries. But what remains to be seen is the commitment from the biggest culprits-China and United States in reducing carbon emissions. We need to put pressure on the United States which is already under intense criticism for cutting financial aid to theWorld Health Organisation as Coronavirus takes the world by storm. We need to intensify pressure on China to reduce its carbon emissions too. It won’t be an easy task given the fact that many countries are currently facing a recession, but we have to do it nevertheless because our survival as humanity depends on a carbon free environment. We are looking forward to seeing new tree planting movements in Australia actively participating in replacement of the depleted natural ecosystems destroyed by fires in 2019. We need to see a new generation of environmental activists playing a more active role in pressuring their government to reduce their coal usage and ensuring that it allocates more resources in supporting Biodiversity restoration in that country.
Written by,
Kiwalabye Ronald
Project Consultant and Director- Schools Tree Project