Children and youth in Uganda call on their leaders to take urgent action on the climate crisis

Kampala, 31 August 2023 –Ahead of the African Climate Summit and COP28, children and youth representatives in Uganda met with government representatives on 29^th August 2023 to submit a statement and call to action to their leaders to take immediate and firm action on the climate crisis. The climate crisis is a child’s right crisis and young people are calling upon their leaders to actively include, engage, and consult them to work together to find innovative solutions to the crisis in Uganda and beyond. Uganda has been hard hit with effects of climate change including flooding, leading to landslides, forced migration, destruction of properties including schools and loss of lives. Some regions such as Karamoja are characterized by long spells of drought and food insecurity which has led to high rates of severe acute malnutrition in children.

In partnership with Go Green Uganda—a youth led organization, UNICEF is actively putting the voices of children and youth at the forefront of the climate crisis and is calling upon all stakeholders to act now to; 

• PRIORITIZE children and young people in climate funding and resource.
• PREVENT the worsening of the crisis for children and young people by securing rapid emissions reduction (mitigation) and the transition to renewable energy.
• PROTECT the health, safety, learning and opportunities of every child; by adapting the critical social services they rely on - water and sanitation (WASH), health, education, nutrition, social protection, and child protection - so they are resilient to the immediate and expected impacts of climate change.
• PREPARE children and young people to live in a climate-changed world; by improving their ‘adaptive capacity,’ ensuring their voices are heard and acted on, and their education and skills are enhanced so they can participate in creating a sustainable future.