the world today. It's no longer news that we are grappling with the devastating effects of climate change. Communities are searching for solutions to try to turn the tide onto the future that at times really looks so depressing, and there is no place this is more real than in the continent of Africa. But of course, conversations about climate change often miss out on accounting for the most critical barrier to climate solutions, which is conflict. I got to know about this through my personal experience as a survivor of war, but also working with a population that has been living through conflict for years. If you may, I would love to share with you a story based on my personal encounter with the communities that I work with and work going through the difficult times of climate change. I'm from Uganda. Recently, in my home district of L, a woman was arrested because she had cut the Shar trees and burnt the charcoal into fuel, and it's a crime in Uganda. I saw her being walked to the police station, and I decided to ask her

said my sister. I see you being taken, and you'll be charged for this crime. But I have a question for you. If you were forgiven for this crime today, do you promise that you'll never do it again? The frustrated woman looked at me and told me, and said, You know what? Even if they release me right now, I would do it again. I would do it again because only through burning chule that I can raise money to pay for my children's education. And it's only through burning chule that I can raise money to meet the medical bills for my children who are always falling sick of malaria. So the truth is, I would do it again. This is the story for many in Uganda, a beautiful country with so much potential, but always undermined by near-constant state of violent conflict. And you know, in a community where poverty and unemployment is so high, the fight against climate change is almost a losing battle. But when you look across Africa, you find that most of the countries most vulnerable to the climate crisis are going through some sort of

conflict. When you look through the Sahel region, you find there's always constant attack clashes between the Hing, the farming, and the fishing communities over diminishing land and water resources. Of course, with not so much option, humanity will always do anything possible to for survival. I remember this firsthand when I was growing up as a child in a war zone in Northern Uganda. I myself had to cut the trees to burn charcoal to raise money to meet the basic needs, but most importantly, pay for my education, an education that has enabled me to be able to stand before you to give this speech today. Now, the big question is, how can we make it? What can we do to create an alternative to environmental destruction and provide economic means that will support conditions necessary for peace? That's the biggest question we should be asking ourselves today. I remember I think about this a lot through my work at African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET), where for decades we have been supporting war survivors from Uganda, from Congo, from Sudan, and South Sudan, and we have been

able to mobilize young people to make them game changers for peace and development. We mediate in community conflict and support agricultural activities as a mechanism to provide youth economic alternatives to violence, and we have been successful. So, the success of this work we have done is a clear manifestation of how local initiatives can greatly impact economic empowerment, conflict resolution, and climate change. And every time I think about this, I do believe this is an opportunity for Africa to also impact on world peace. And I sincerely know for sure that for us to achieve this goal, the following three points have always come very strongly in my heart. And first is we need to change the way we talk about climate change. It is time that we take the climate dialogue beyond just mere weather patterns and help people understand what they are fighting for, who they are protecting, what will they win or lose based on their action or inaction. This has always helped us. I remember early last year, I went to my village with my twin brother Jack. We were welcomed by one of the

community elders Charles. He was so happy to see us, to welcome us home, and he was sad that he couldn't give us some sugar cane, which used to be a traditional gift to us, simply because the wetland that used to grow sugar cane had dried up, and he was really sad about it. My twin brother comforted him and told him, Whether he changing what I would encourage is let Community do our part by planting trees so that we can attract more rain. When he heard this, he asked my brother, Mr. Opio, are you saying trees are good to bring rain? Now that you have planted so many trees in your community, is it raining in your garden? To me, this was sincerely the most basic, important, organic question that could come from this community, but also made me reflect if at all our global discussions about climate change are actually responding to the needs at the grassroots. So today in Northern Uganda, shear trees are no longer producing enough fruits because there's

local knowledge that shear trees do need bush burning in order to stimulate flowering, but also we know bush burning is bad for the environment, creating a lot of confusion. And this brings in the issue that contradicts the account from experts, from activists, from the government, which leaves the local communities as collateral victims of global disagreement. And this has kept every one of us in the merry-go-round of climate confusion. Secondly, we need to engage the population that is most affected, in this case, the young people. The youth, with 7% of Africa below the age of 30, represent the largest demographic opportunity for the continent. We have to engage the youth; including youth would be an opportunity to uplift the continent from the devastating poverty, and excluding young people in all the climate activities will benefit conflict. So, we must engage young people. This is because we do know youth are the legitimate owners of the future, so their inclusion is mandatory. And finally, as we seek to mitigate the effects of climate change and conflict, it is time for all corporations.

government and individuals accountable for committing climate crimes home and abroad. This should be done by establishing an International climate court. Today, the world is celebrating the transition to clean energy. We are celebrating the progress, but we cannot celebrate the transition to clean energy while being silent about the death and suffering of millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for instance. Populations have been displaced. Millions have been killed, lost properties, just because companies or corporations are exploiting their natural resources. And we have seen also rebel groups fighting to take on the fertile lands, lands rich with minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The truth is the suffering, the death, the humanity we are seeing in Congo is proof that the road to clean energy is so far the direst road on the planet. Of course, I'm also worried. I'm worried that the climate crisis will leave the world more divided, especially between the global North and the global South. I'm also worried that the rich and the poor will be divided, the rural and urban. Why? Because 10% of the world's wealth are discussing on reduction of

global emission by flying less, and yet the greater poorer majority are dreaming for only one-time opportunity to fly. To them, all these climate regulations being proposed appears as an effort to reinforce the pre-existing inequality, which has always been meant to keep them poor. This is going to create the division. Lastly, there is an African proverb by legendary South African musician Hugh Masekela, who sang the song that says, The night is long for an angry child. The night is long for an angry child. What an image! That child could have been your child. Think about that, Mom, that Dad who are powerlessly waiting for the morning to try to get something for the child who can't sleep because he went to bed with an empty stomach. If we have the opportunity, we should have leadership that is willing to create conditions that will help build the community, the tomorrow that our children can count on. And lastly, may we realize that the birth of a new era would mean we must all understand that climate change and war are intertwined global long-term challenges. It requires all of

us to work together and most importantly, mobilize a generation that is so willing to defy violence and work for the good of all of us. AO Tech, thank you very much.

The Intersection of War and Climate Change | Victor Ochen | TED

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