OLIVE ATUHAIRE: Why is the earth heating up? Let’s fix the root problem
Recently, the media reported that the temperature have risen to 34.4 degrees Celsius from the usual extremes of 31 degrees noting that the earth’s average surface temperatures has warmed between 0.3 and 0.6 Celsius in the past 100 years which may rise by two degrees in the next 100 years if we continue producing greenhouse gases at the present rate.
Editor, the Paris agreement aims at holding an increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre industrial levels and perusing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels recognizing this would reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.
Recently, the media reported that the temperature have risen to 34.4 degrees Celsius from the usual extremes of 31 degrees noting that the earth’s average surface temperatures has warmed between 0.3 and 0.6 Celsius in the past 100 years which may rise by two degrees in the next 100 years if we continue producing greenhouse gases at the present rate. However, we cannot save a burning planet with a fire hose of fossil fuels, the 1.5 degree only is possible if we ultimately stop burning or investing in all fossil fuels.
Despite the rise of the temperatures that have led to environmental and social risks, the government of Uganda is still committed to invest over USD15 billion in oil projects including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), Tilenga, Kingfisher, and other oil projects. In addition, these investments will compromise the country’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gases from 22% to 24.7% as indicated under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) which may rise more the temperature. Greenhouse gas emissions must be drastically reduced to avert the impending climate catastrophe in order to achieve our Paris agreement goals.
According to the data from UN National program, greenhouse gases are the greatest environmental threat to public health globally and many people especially women are found to be vulnerable to the exposure of these gases due to use of biomass which generates a lot of emissions that do not only affect human’s health but also damages the ecosystems and biodiversity hence undermining the planet’s ability to mitigate climate change that threatens the livelihoods of millions of people.
It is noted that carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels rise the temperature which contribute to climate change significantly impacting people most especially farmers by causing extreme weather events such as drought, floods, heatwaves and unpredictable weather patterns leading to reduced crop yields, damaged infrastructure and ultimately affecting food security particularly for small scale farmers in vulnerable regions. This demands transformative changes from acceleration the transition to renewable energy to rethinking agriculture. Ultimately as community global prepares the third round of national Determined Contributions, we must act decisively to enhance global commitments and enable the attendant collective action in order to ensure we keep the 1.5degrees Celsius for a greener, more sustainable and a better world to the generation to come.
There is an urgent need to stop investing in the fossil fuels (oil and gas) projects that raise a great concern about the destruction of the nature by increasing carbon emissions leading to environmental degradation as Uganda looks forward to reduce its net zero gas emissions by 22% Business As Usual (BAU) by 2030 through its updated National Determined Contributions (NDCs), As emissions continue to increase, a hundred millions of people will not enjoy the benefits of the nature. We therefore, need to prioritize renewable energy technologies by increasing its investments in order to conserve the environment, protect public health, and promote sustainable development.
Efforts to mitigate air pollution also require the need to reduce on the costs of the clean energy sources such as briquettes, solar panels, cook stoves and many others that may have the potential to reduce on the emissions that are caused by the vulnerable energy systems which are susceptible to climate change. Collaboration among government agencies, businesses, civil society organizations, and the public is also crucial to address the root causes of the temperature rise in order to enhance the quality of life in terms of health and accelerate people’s progress by reducing their exposure to pollution that affects their health and environment.
Olive Atuhaire is a Research Associate
atuhaireolivia72.ao@gmail.com
