Vivo Energy Uganda, the company that distributes and markets Shell fuels and lubricants, has partnered with Little Green Hands – My Kid is a Super Star to create a culture of environmental care among school children in the fight against climate change. They conducted environmental symposiums in 30 schools that have come together on World Earth Day, 22nd April 2015 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala to participate in a climate change conference. The children presented messages on the theme of “The child citizen finding our own solutions to the climate change crisis”.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Vivo Energy’smanaging director, Mr. Hans Paulsen, said that this is part of Vivo Energy’s efforts to instill in young people a sense of ownership and pride in their environment. He noted that children and are the future and that their involvement in conservation is a necessity for the survival of the planet earth.
Paulsen cautioned citizens to avoid illegal tree harvesting, one of the leading causes of environmental degradation. “Uganda has already lost two-thirds of its forests in the last 20 years and if action is not taken could lose all of its forested land by 2050. This would have severe repercussions for the country’s poorest people. Issues surrounding deforestation have to be addressed.” said Paulsen.
He added that as a company that deals in fuel, Vivo Energy has both a direct responsibility for the impact it makes and a business, and also a responsibility to educate local communities to help them protect the environment.“In all our operations our target is goal zero which means zero harm to people, assets and environment. We have prioritised environmental management in the design of all our structures and in our operations.”
This conference saw 250 childrenjoin together to develop solutions to the existing climate change crisis. The brilliant presentations by the schools challenged policy makers to address issues of environmental management with urgency.
