Uganda
Excellencies and Distinguished Representatives,
ladies and Gentlemen,
At the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 we recognized the
importance of sustainable development. But our quest for development has continued to
have negative impact on our environment.
The signing of several important multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in the
last 15 years marked the beginning of positive action to save our environment. While
these agreements are labelled environmental, they are in fact developmental agreements.
As they are, achieving the goals of development in our countries will depend critically on
the successful implementation of those agreements. That is why we expect decisive
actions on sustainable development to come out of this session of the Commission.
There is already an overwhelming agreement in this assembly on the significant
crosscutting role of energy and its impact on industrial development, air/atmospheric
pollution and climate change. The continued emphasis on access to clean and affordable
energy sources is a genuine response to the practical experiences in both developing and
industrialized countries. It means the key to solving the problem of climate change and
reducing poverty lies in energy revolution; a green revolution that addresses the interest
of women and the poor who are struggling out there daily to make basic ends meet. A
focus on policies to double energy consumption by increasing rural and urban access to
clean affordable energy and its availability. This, of course, will require mobilizing and
enabling local communities, NGOs, small and medium-sized enterprises and financial
institutions to respond to the energy needs of the poor with appropriate services and
products.
Mr. Chairman,
Uganda like many LDCs has drawn the attention of the International Community to her
vulnerability to climate change at various fora. Increased frequency of extreme weather
and climate events such as prolonged droughts and high temperatures resulting in
excessive evaporation rates have had serious negative impacts on the energy, agriculture,
water resources, health and other economic sectors. In the Great Lakes Region of Africa
the levels of Lake Victoria and other water bodies for instance have hit a record low.
This has adversely affected our hydropower generation. Floods on the other hand have
also had negative impacts on the health sector. (outbreak of water borne diseases,
including cholera and increased malaria incidences, with children being the most
vulnerable). These have led to significant diversion of development resources to meet
emergency needs.
In Uganda our economy is still based on the exploitation of natural resources and will
remain so for the foreseeable future. For instance over 28 billion cubic meters of wood
are destroyed per annum for firewood. The burden of collecting and using this firewood
4
falls heavily on the women who also suffer the effect of smoke pollution. To substitute
this with clean energy we need to generate 22,500 megawatts of electricity to meet the
needs of the people. We therefore need the support of policy actions to promote the
development of all forms of sustainable energy to meet the demand.
There is now sufficient compelling evidence to show that sustainable energy supply is the
basis for meaningful development. Countries with low energy consumption e.g. the
LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa will remain in this status unless their energy supply and
consumption is substantially boosted. Fortunately, the Forum for Energy Ministers of
Africa (FEMA) has been formed to precisely address this. In March this year (2007) they
issued the Maputo Declaration which clearly spells out what actions African
Governments must individually, regionally and collectively pursue to step up sustainable
energy supply and access. Coordination and harmonization with Development Partners
and International agencies to realize requisite investment resources and programs was
agreed. It is our hope that CSD15 endorses and lends support to these progressive
initiatives adopted by FEMA.
We are ready to join the consensus that is building on the policy issues and we believe
that with strong and effective partnership at both the international and local levels,
developing countries will be able to leap-frog some environmentally unfriendly stages of
development that industrialized countries have gone through and be able to achieve clean
and sustainable development.
I thank you for your attention.
ladies and Gentlemen,
At the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 we recognized the
importance of sustainable development. But our quest for development has continued to
have negative impact on our environment.
The signing of several important multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in the
last 15 years marked the beginning of positive action to save our environment. While
these agreements are labelled environmental, they are in fact developmental agreements.
As they are, achieving the goals of development in our countries will depend critically on
the successful implementation of those agreements. That is why we expect decisive
actions on sustainable development to come out of this session of the Commission.
There is already an overwhelming agreement in this assembly on the significant
crosscutting role of energy and its impact on industrial development, air/atmospheric
pollution and climate change. The continued emphasis on access to clean and affordable
energy sources is a genuine response to the practical experiences in both developing and
industrialized countries. It means the key to solving the problem of climate change and
reducing poverty lies in energy revolution; a green revolution that addresses the interest
of women and the poor who are struggling out there daily to make basic ends meet. A
focus on policies to double energy consumption by increasing rural and urban access to
clean affordable energy and its availability. This, of course, will require mobilizing and
enabling local communities, NGOs, small and medium-sized enterprises and financial
institutions to respond to the energy needs of the poor with appropriate services and
products.
Mr. Chairman,
Uganda like many LDCs has drawn the attention of the International Community to her
vulnerability to climate change at various fora. Increased frequency of extreme weather
and climate events such as prolonged droughts and high temperatures resulting in
excessive evaporation rates have had serious negative impacts on the energy, agriculture,
water resources, health and other economic sectors. In the Great Lakes Region of Africa
the levels of Lake Victoria and other water bodies for instance have hit a record low.
This has adversely affected our hydropower generation. Floods on the other hand have
also had negative impacts on the health sector. (outbreak of water borne diseases,
including cholera and increased malaria incidences, with children being the most
vulnerable). These have led to significant diversion of development resources to meet
emergency needs.
In Uganda our economy is still based on the exploitation of natural resources and will
remain so for the foreseeable future. For instance over 28 billion cubic meters of wood
are destroyed per annum for firewood. The burden of collecting and using this firewood
4
falls heavily on the women who also suffer the effect of smoke pollution. To substitute
this with clean energy we need to generate 22,500 megawatts of electricity to meet the
needs of the people. We therefore need the support of policy actions to promote the
development of all forms of sustainable energy to meet the demand.
There is now sufficient compelling evidence to show that sustainable energy supply is the
basis for meaningful development. Countries with low energy consumption e.g. the
LDCs and Sub-Saharan Africa will remain in this status unless their energy supply and
consumption is substantially boosted. Fortunately, the Forum for Energy Ministers of
Africa (FEMA) has been formed to precisely address this. In March this year (2007) they
issued the Maputo Declaration which clearly spells out what actions African
Governments must individually, regionally and collectively pursue to step up sustainable
energy supply and access. Coordination and harmonization with Development Partners
and International agencies to realize requisite investment resources and programs was
agreed. It is our hope that CSD15 endorses and lends support to these progressive
initiatives adopted by FEMA.
We are ready to join the consensus that is building on the policy issues and we believe
that with strong and effective partnership at both the international and local levels,
developing countries will be able to leap-frog some environmentally unfriendly stages of
development that industrialized countries have gone through and be able to achieve clean
and sustainable development.
I thank you for your attention.
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