Speaker Oboth Urges Actionable Climate Solutions Over Statistics

Speaker Jacob Markson Oboth has issued a strong call to leaders, urging them to transition from theoretical discussions and statistical exchanges in boardrooms to implementing tangible actions against climate change. Speaking at the Third CEOs’ Breakfast Meeting and High Level Dialogue on Green Economy and Environmental Sustainability, Oboth highlighted the destructive power of environmental shocks, which are eroding hard-won livelihoods and infrastructure.

During his keynote address, themed “Accelerating Uganda’s Green Economy Transition through Digital Transformation,” Oboth pledged Parliament’s unwavering support for legislative, budgetary, and oversight measures necessary for robust climate action. He stressed the urgency of moving beyond prolonged engagements that merely consume statistics, demanding instead resolutions that are both actionable and measurable.

Citing global data that indicates the current decade (2015-2025) is the warmest on record, with temperatures nearing 1.44°C above pre-industrial levels, Oboth outlined Uganda’s severe consequences. These include more frequent landslides, overflowing rivers, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts, all of which threaten agricultural stability, rural economies, and national development.

He advocated for immediate investments in forest and wetland preservation, land restoration, and the adoption of digital technologies for real-time environmental monitoring and resource management. Expanding renewable energy sources was also underscored as critical for sustainable development.

Discussions also touched upon the role of the ICT sector, with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) noting its own environmental footprint and the potential for energy consumption to double by 2030. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) emphasized that digital and green solutions must prioritize vulnerable populations, commending Uganda’s pioneering role in the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment and Climate Change.

UNICEF highlighted the foundational importance of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) for climate resilience, pointing out existing service gaps that hinder progress. The collective message underscored a unified commitment to translating intent into impactful, on-the-ground environmental action.

Source: Parliament of Uganda