Draft:Nicholas Omonuk

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  • Comment: Interviews, what Omonuk has said or written or are affiliated with him are primary sources so cannot be used to establish notability and should only be used sparingly. Sources that do not mention Omonuk are not useful. Also, all the footnotes are bunched at the bottom but they need to placed next to claims they are supporting. S0091 (talk) 20:07, 14 April 2024 (UTC)
Nicholas Omonuk
Born8th August, 1999
Nationality (legal)Ugandan
CitizenshipUganda
EducationKyambogo University
Years active2021 to date
Known forClimate Activism/Activist

Nicholas Omonuk Okoit (Born 8th August, 1999), also known as Nick Omonuk is a Ugandan Climate Justice Activist

Early Life[edit]

Omonuk grew up in a rural community of Pallisa in Uganda from a pastoralist family.[1] His family heavily relied on livestock as a critical source of food, labour and milk. As he grew up, his village grappled with severe droughts which not only depleted their water wells and grazing lands but also resulted in food scarcity. Alongside with his brothers, he embarked on extensive journeys with livestock in search of accessible water and grassy areas located kilometres away from their residence.[2] Simultaneously, his sisters also had to walk longer distances to fetch water from the nearest available water wells and boreholes that still had some water. This water was mainly for use at home. Although the water was not clean enough, they did not have a choice but to fetch it. Omonuk graduated with an Engineering degree from Kyambogo University.

Actions For Climate[edit]

In 2021, Omonuk developed a keen interest in climate change from the university. When he found out that the droughts that his village faced were a result of climate change, he developed passion to fight for climate justice.

Inspired by Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate to start his own climate movement End Fossil Occupy Uganda, Omonuk began solidarity strikes against inaction on the climate crisis. For several months Nicholas held protests both online and physically in Uganda and Europe to demand a phase-out of fossil fuels and a just transition for Africa.

In December 2022, Omonuk represented the Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA) at the 27th Conference of the Parties COP27 together with other young climate activists Vanessa Nakate, Elizabeth Wathuti and Evelyn Acham.

In April 2023, Omonuk organized a climate protest to demand for more investment in renewable energies.[3] A month later, Omonuk organized an occupation at Kyambogo University to draw students into climate action. In June 2023, Omonuk joined other youth climate activists from Fridays For Future Austria and Global 2000 to demand ISOPLUS (An Austrian Company) to drop out of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). Omonuk highlighted the project's harmful impact on local communities and ecosystems in Uganda and Tanzania. Recognizing the importance of legislative action, Omonuk also highlighted the relevance of the supply chain law in protecting communities like his from such projects.[4] Through this collaboration they later led a campaign at the European Forum Alpbach months later. At the forum Omonuk spoke on a podcast with Die Presse [5]sharing his experience on how the climate crisis affected them in Pallisa and how climate change causes migration for people in areas such as where he comes from.

In June 2023, Omonuk gave a speech at a side event at the SB58 Bonn Climate Conference[6] highlighting the urgent need for climate finance in the global south.

In July 2023, Omonuk gave a speech on the EU Day of commemorating climate victims urging leaders that climate action is a much better solution.

In October 2023, Omonuk together with another activist called Maxwell Atuhura[7] gave speeches[8] in Brussels, Austria and Slovenia about corporate abuse by the EACOP[9] in the journey to lobby for the CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive)/Supply Chain Law a law in the European Union to protect vulnerable communities like his from human rights abuse and climate damage by corporations. Omonuk urged[10] leaders, students, journalists, workers, and community members in Europe to vote for the law, emphasizing that if the law was legally binding, it would be easy for communities like those in his country that had been affected by the EACOP to hold the company that was involved in the project accountable for the damages. He also spoke at a podcast with Frank Bold[11] to further highlight the relevance of this law.

Omonuk also participated in different climate protests in Europe to demand for climate justice. He has organized campaigns to demand for a fossil fuel phase-out and has collaborated with several European NGOs and climate activist movements. Omonuk took part in a protest in Basel, Switzerland[12] on climate migration with the Collective Climate Justice an NGO in Switzerland advocating for climate climate migration to be a reason for people to seek asylum.

In December 2023, Omonuk represented the Global South at the 28th Conference of the Parties[13] COP28 which was key in operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund and decision on the phase-out of Fossil Fuels.

Omonuk is also the co-founder of Plant For My Future an initiative that gathers youth and communities across Africa to plant trees and educate people about climate change.

Omonuk has also spoken at various podcasts[14] and events sharing his perspective on climate justice.

Achievements in Activism[edit]

Omonuk's activism has been instrumental in raising awareness and mobilizing support for environmental causes, particularly in regards to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project[15]. Throughout the campaign, several financial institutions and companies, including ISOPLUS, an Austrian company, withdrew their support from the EACOP due to concerns raised by Nicholas and other activists.

Omonuk's collaboration with European NGOs and climate activist movements further strengthened the global movement for climate justice. By leveraging partnerships and solidarity across borders, he amplified the voices of affected communities and intensified pressure on decision-makers to prioritize environmental sustainability.

In February 2024, Omonuk and his team at End Fossil Occupy Uganda joined a targeted campaign[16] urging insurance companies to cease insuring projects like the EACOP and other fossil fuel ventures. This campaign, spanning five weeks, aimed to disrupt the financial support infrastructure for environmentally harmful projects. The impact of the campaign became evident when Probitas, an insurance company involved in the EACOP, withdrew its support from the project the following month, signalling a significant victory for the climate movement.

Furthermore, Omonuk's advocacy efforts contributed to tangible policy changes, such as the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in Europe, also known as the Supply Chain Law. This landmark legislation aims to hold corporations accountable for human rights abuses and environmental damage across their supply chains.

Recognition[edit]

Omonuk became an African Climate Ambassador in 2023.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nadler, Douglas (21 May 2024). "Giving young people a public voice: a conversation with Ugandan climate/biodiversity activist Nicholas Omonuk". Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  2. ^ Nadler, Douglas (10 May 2024). "Giving young people a public voice: a conversation with Ugandan climate/biodiversity activist Nicholas Omonuk". www.pressreader.com. The Sherbrooke Record. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  3. ^ Mulondo, Lawrence (29 April 2023). "Govts asked to invest in renewable energies to mitigate climate change". New Vision. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  4. ^ Glösel, Kathrin (2023-10-19). "Französischer Konzern baut Mega-Pipeline in Uganda und zerstört Lebensgrundlage tausender Familien". Kontrast.at (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  5. ^ Wallner, 26 08 2023 um 03:00 von Eva Winroither und Anna (2023-08-25). "#4: Ein Streit übers Fliegen und ein Afrikaner, der den..." Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "UNFCCC". unfccc-events.azureedge.net. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  7. ^ János, Allenbach, Ammann (17 October 2023). "Ugandan activists call on EU to move forward on due diligence law". EURACTIV. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  8. ^ Glösel, Kathrin (2023-10-19). "Französischer Konzern baut Mega-Pipeline in Uganda und zerstört Lebensgrundlage tausender Familien". Kontrast.at (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  9. ^ "Ustrahovanje in pritiski na aktiviste". Dogajanje in novice iz sveta in tujine - Ustrahovanje in pritiski na aktiviste - Si21 - prvi slovenski portal (in Slovenian). 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  10. ^ Philippa, Nuttall (16 October 2023). "Why CSDDD negotiations are a matter of life and death". www.sustainableviews.com. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  11. ^ Howitt, Richard (2023-11-07). "#34 Maxwell Atuhura & Nicholas Omonuk: Global South's Call for an Effective EU Due Diligence Law". Listen Notes. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  12. ^ Jacobi, Mona Martin, Maria-Elisa Schrade, Maximilian (2023-08-11). "Klima-Protest bei Basler Dreirosenbrücke stoppte den Schiffsverkehr". bz Basel (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Ida, Åkerstedt (20 December 2023). "The loss and damage fund – The fund has to be in the billions". ForUM for Utvikling og Miljø (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  14. ^ Niemetz, Nora (2023-09-09). "FROzine - 15. September: Weltweiter Klimastreik". Radio FRO (in German). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  15. ^ Nadler, Douglas (18 May 2024). "Climate literacy starts with recognising that we are part on Nature". sherbrookerecord.pressreader.com. The Sherbrooke Record. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  16. ^ Matovu, Muhamadi (2024-02-28). "Climate activists pressure insurers to divest from fossil fuels, embrace renewables". Nilepost News. Retrieved 2024-05-24.

External Links[edit]

  1. Africa@COP28: Interview with Nicholas Omonuk Okoit, Climate Activist, Uganda
  2. Stoppt EACOP! Stoppt TotalEnergies! feat. Nicholas Omonuk
  3. BÜNDNIS UM LETZTE GENERATION PLANT PROTEST GEGEN DEN BAU VON ERDÖLPIPELINE IN UGANDA UND TANSANIA
  4. Klimaaktivist Nicholas Omonuk: ,,Viele Afrikaner verkaufen ihr Land und fliehen nach Europa
  5. EVENT Unpacking the CSDDD: responsibility, climate and justice by the European Coalition for Corporate Justice
  6. Event with the Evangelisches Forum Bonn
  7. EU podjetja pod lupo: prisluhnimo ugandskim aktivistom
  8. Open Letter to approve the CSDDD by Frontline Defenders
  9. Interview with the Nowegian Forum for Development and Environment
  10. Stop EACOP Comunicato Stampa by Fridays For Future Italia
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