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{
    "id": 475092,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/475092/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 309,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Ottichilo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 131,
        "legal_name": "Wilber Ottichilo Khasilwa",
        "slug": "wilber-ottichilo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I beg to move that the Climate Change Bill, National Assembly Bill, No.1 of 2014 be read the Second Time. This is a very important Bill and I would like hon. Members to contribute to it positively. Climate change is the greatest global threat and challenge that is facing mankind today. Climate change is leading to global warming which is caused by what is commonly known as green houses which is mainly carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide emitted from vehicles and factories use fossil fuel or fossil energy. Also climate change is caused through deforestation, change of our land uses and burning of green biomass or use of wood fuel. So, most of the gasses that are emitted out of this process are emitted into the atmosphere where they form a layer like a green house. Therefore, when the sun rays heat the earth, the heat does not escape back into the atmosphere but is held within the earth and that makes the earth to keep on heating. That is why we have global warming. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, global warming is a threat to the survival of this planet. It is only the planet earth where life is known to exist. Scientists are working round the clock to find out whether there is life on any of the other planets, but so far they have not succeeded. Therefore, with the increasing heating of the earth, we are likely to burn this earth. If we burn this earth, life will be no more. Therefore, it is important that human beings reason and see to it that, we stop the increase of green houses into the atmosphere. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, a recent scientific research shows that the heating of the earth is going on and for the last 20 years the earth heat increased by 2 degrees, which is too significant. What has been the result of that heating of 2 degrees? What has happened is that the earth is heating up and, therefore, we are having a lot of impact because all the global systems have been put off balance, particularly what is called ecological life supporting system; systems that make life possible on this earth are now being put off balance. That means life on this planet is under threat. Therefore, what are the impacts of climate change to the normal life of a human being on this planet? I will be very brief. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the increasing temperatures are causing a lot of issues. One of the major issues is drought. We have just discussed a Bill on the Floor of this House on how to deal with drought. Therefore, the frequent occurrence of drought that we are now seeing in this country and in the world at large is due to climate change. The Chair will agree with me that drought costs this country a lot money. During the 199/2000 drought, this country spent more than Kshs4.7 billion on food aid to the affected people. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, also the impact of climate change is that the rainfall patterns have changed and the seasons are no longer predictable. Rain comes in torrents and they cause floods. So, we have a lot of floods and if you listen to radio, everywhere in the world you will hear about floods every day. These are causing a lot of problems. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the climate change has led to failure in crop and livestock production; and you have heard people from Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASAL) clearly articulating the issue of drought and how drought is affecting this The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}