Climate activists in Uganda are raising the alarm and pleading with the government to give climate education top priority in the national curriculum.They emphasised that the foundation of humanity’s fight against the climate problem is climate education in an impactful press conference on Monday.
Their call to action comes as the “Climate Clock” recently dropped below six years for the first time, marking a critical moment in our battle to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. Activists worldwide joined forces on “Climate Emergency Day” to raise awareness and demand urgent action.
At the Uganda Museum, an impassioned countdown event saw activists vocalise their plea for climate education integration.
Sandra Aryamanya, co-lead of Climate Clock Uganda, emphasised at the press conference on Monday that it is time for leaders to act and prioritise climate education.
“Empowering our youth with knowledge and tools is essential to creating environmentally conscious citizens,” Aryamanya stressed.
She said that Climate education offers a profound understanding of the connection between human actions and their impact on the planet. Clare Nassanga, a devoted activist from the Rise Up Movement, pointed out that women and girls are often disproportionately affected by climate disasters.
“Prioritising them in decision-making is crucial,” she urged.
Arthur Musinguzi, the national coordinator for Debt for Climate Uganda, warned that the consequences of inaction would be catastrophic.
“When the Climate Clock hits zero, the disasters we witness today will more than double, leaving the planet uninhabitable,” Musinguzi cautioned.
Reagan Elijah, founder of Debt for Climate Uganda, called for global North countries to cancel debt for nations like Uganda, enabling them to respond effectively to climate change. “Global South countries bear the brunt of the crisis despite being less responsible for causing it,” Elijah asserted.
Under the hashtag #ActInTime, the Climate Clock project brings together art, science, technology, and grassroots activism.
This cutting-edge clock tracks progress along essential solution pathways as it ticks down to the crucial timeframe for achieving zero emissions.
Climate Clock teams have sprouted up all over the world since its revolutionary premiere in New York in September 2020, making this essential cause difficult to ignore.