Climate Activists Sound Alarm: Fossil Fuels and Unregulated Carbon Markets Threaten Global Health and Environment
In a stark warning issued at the Bonn Climate Summit in Germany, climate activists and health experts are urging global governments to take immediate action against fossil fuels and loosely regulated carbon markets. The failure to do so, they caution, could exacerbate environmental degradation and public health crises, particularly in vulnerable countries like Uganda. This call to action comes as Uganda begins to implement its new Carbon Market Regulations, set to take effect in November 2024, aiming to align its national carbon trade systems with international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.
At the heart of the concern is the impact of fossil fuels on both the environment and human health. "Leaving fossil fuels unchecked is not just an environmental issue — it’s a public health crisis in the making," emphasized Claire Chaslo from the Environmental Network. Kwami Kpondzo, an environmental activist from Togo, added, "Millions of lives are at risk. We need a radical shift in how governments respond to climate threats." The urgency of the situation is underscored by Uganda’s experience, where despite being a regional climate leader with over 33 million carbon credits in circulation, mostly for reforestation, clean cooking, and clean water projects, activists question the equity and integrity of such projects due to evidence that market structures often leave local communities behind.
Uganda’s flagship GRO Afforestation Project, aiming to plant 255 million native trees over 45 years, is a significant initiative that could sequester an estimated 138.6 million tonnes of CO₂e. However, the carbon credits traded on the International Carbon Registry (ICR) at around US $42 per tonne raise concerns about the human cost and the need for fair, transparent, and climate-just practices. Assem Gebreal, a campaigner from Egypt, passionately stated, "This isn’t about politics anymore. It’s about our planet. It’s about survival. We are demanding that global leaders put people before profit, and nature before markets."
The intersection of health and climate is a critical area of concern. Fossil fuel-related pollution is linked to a rise in respiratory illness and waterborne disease across East Africa. Dr. Wing Tung Rachel Cheung, a medical practitioner from Hong Kong, stressed, "Clean air, clean water, and a stable climate are not luxuries. They are fundamental to human health. Investing in a blue economy is investing in our survival." The blue economy, focusing on ocean conservation, sustainable resource use, and community-centered adaptation, is now encouraged in Uganda’s climate legislation as part of carbon market planning.
Despite progress, challenges persist, including the lack of a secondary trading platform, inconsistent standards, and technical gaps in registry and verification systems within Uganda’s carbon market. Some tree-planting schemes have been criticized for inadequate benefit-sharing and questionable "additionality." The Ugandan government is negotiating bilateral carbon trade agreements under Article 6.2, aiming for a benchmark price of US $10 per credit, which must meet strict transparency and environmental integrity standards.
In conclusion, the message from climate activists and health experts is clear: the time for decisive action against fossil fuels and for robust, fair, and transparent carbon governance is now. As Claire Chaslo reiterated, "The carbon market can be part of the solution, but only if it’s fair, transparent, and aligned with climate justice." The future of our planet and the health of its inhabitants depend on the actions taken today. Global leaders must prioritize people and nature over profit, ensuring that the pursuit of climate solutions does not come at the expense of local communities and ecosystems.
