The role of youth in combating climate change should be made intentional, inclusive and must be financed in order to promote sustainable growth in climate issues in Africa.
Public Relations Officer at Botswana Climate Change Network (BCCN), Boitumelo Marumo said that youth are essential to climate action, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and they have the unique perspective and energy to drive solutions to climate problems.
She was speaking after the inaugural Africa Climate Summit and Africa climate week that was held in Nairobi, Kenya, where over 20 African head of states were present.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, African Union Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat and President of the European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyenalso attended the summit.
Marumo said this allowed African Head of States and world leaders united in confronting the climate catastrophe, thanks to the September 2023 adoption of the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action.
She explained that the declaration urges immediate global emissions reductions, financial commitments, and assistance for green growth in Africa in light of the failure to fulfil the 1.5°C target and Africa's increased vulnerability to climate impacts.
“African countries promised to create green policies, make investments in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection, and place a priority on early warning systems and adaptation.
“It calls for financial system reforms, a worldwide tax structure for climate financing, and money mobilisation for development and climate action,” she said.
Nairobi Declaration of 2023, indicates that, “The commitments and announcements at the Africa Climate Summit equate to a combined investment of nearly USD 26 billion from public, private sector, and multilateral development banks, philanthropic foundations, and other partners in the development financing community. “
Marumo lamented that, youth involvement is still low regarding the issues of climate, generally and more than half of the African states were not present at the events. “If we are to craft a common message and lead with a united front as Africa, all nations must come together,” she said.
Marumo applauded the Africa Youth Climate Assembly (AYCA) Nairobi Declaration for it calls on African Union leaders, international organisations, and key stakeholders to incorporate youth engagement into frameworks for combating climate change.
“This establishes the AYCA as the main platform for coordinating youth involvement in climate governance, promotes youth inclusion in sustainable development goals, and calls for representation in a Global Green Bank,” Marumo said, noting that in addition to endorsing the establishment of a United Nations Youth Office in Africa, the declaration urges institutionalising youth involvement in climate decision-making and establishing a green fund for young entrepreneurs.
“African youth make up over 60 percent of the continent's population. They are the ones who will inherit the planet and who will be most affected by the impacts of climate change in the long term. It is important that they have a say in how the continent responds to climate change,” Marumo said.
She appreciated the fact that Botswana is taking a number of steps to promote renewable energy.
This she said includes; Botswana's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2020-2040 which sets a target of 30 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, developing and promoting renewable energy infrastructure and strategies such as the solar roof, roadside street lights, solar water pumps as well as promoting renewable energy education and awareness through public outreach campaigns and school programs.
Some of the specific renewable energy projects that are currently underway in Botswana include; the Letlhakane Solar Power Plant, and this 100 MW solar power plant is the largest in Botswana. It was completed in 2020 and is now generating electricity for the national grid.
The Serowe Solar Power Plant, a 50 MW solar power plant is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2024. There is also the Mmamabula Wind Power Plant, a 200 MW wind power plant which is in the planning stages and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Director at Grandhedge International in Ghana, Emmanuella Doreen Kwofie noted that finance is crucial when it comes to issues of mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage. “Africa produces only about three percent of global carbon emissions but African continent is the most vulnerable continent to climate change related issues. This is why the climate vulnerability forum was organized. The Climate Vulnerability Forum is an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet and it consists of about 58 countries with Africa represented by about 23 countries.
The Forum is led by a rotating chair for an ordinary period of two years, with Ghana currently chairing the period 2022 to 2024. The Declaration makes an invitation to global partners to support Africa with their technical and financial resources towards decarbonisation; to establish a new financial architecture, provide a global tax regime to finance climate action such as emissions.
Africa cannot transition rapidly without support from the global community. Such commitments have been made during previous Conference of Parties but have not been fulfilled,” she said, emphasizing that these commitments should not be lip service but steps must be taken to ensure their timely fulfilment.
Marumo said that the Africa Climate Summit was a timely and important event, that clearly indicates that more needs to be done to address the climate crisis in Africa.
Public Relations Officer at Botswana Climate Change Network (BCCN), Boitumelo Marumo said that youth are essential to climate action, vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and they have the unique perspective and energy to drive solutions to climate problems.
She was speaking after the inaugural Africa Climate Summit and Africa climate week that was held in Nairobi, Kenya, where over 20 African head of states were present.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, African Union Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat and President of the European Commission,
Ursula von der Leyenalso attended the summit.
Marumo said this allowed African Head of States and world leaders united in confronting the climate catastrophe, thanks to the September 2023 adoption of the African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action.
She explained that the declaration urges immediate global emissions reductions, financial commitments, and assistance for green growth in Africa in light of the failure to fulfil the 1.5°C target and Africa's increased vulnerability to climate impacts.
“African countries promised to create green policies, make investments in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection, and place a priority on early warning systems and adaptation.
“It calls for financial system reforms, a worldwide tax structure for climate financing, and money mobilisation for development and climate action,” she said.
Nairobi Declaration of 2023, indicates that, “The commitments and announcements at the Africa Climate Summit equate to a combined investment of nearly USD 26 billion from public, private sector, and multilateral development banks, philanthropic foundations, and other partners in the development financing community. “
Marumo lamented that, youth involvement is still low regarding the issues of climate, generally and more than half of the African states were not present at the events. “If we are to craft a common message and lead with a united front as Africa, all nations must come together,” she said.
Marumo applauded the Africa Youth Climate Assembly (AYCA) Nairobi Declaration for it calls on African Union leaders, international organisations, and key stakeholders to incorporate youth engagement into frameworks for combating climate change.
“This establishes the AYCA as the main platform for coordinating youth involvement in climate governance, promotes youth inclusion in sustainable development goals, and calls for representation in a Global Green Bank,” Marumo said, noting that in addition to endorsing the establishment of a United Nations Youth Office in Africa, the declaration urges institutionalising youth involvement in climate decision-making and establishing a green fund for young entrepreneurs.
“African youth make up over 60 percent of the continent's population. They are the ones who will inherit the planet and who will be most affected by the impacts of climate change in the long term. It is important that they have a say in how the continent responds to climate change,” Marumo said.
She appreciated the fact that Botswana is taking a number of steps to promote renewable energy.
This she said includes; Botswana's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2020-2040 which sets a target of 30 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, developing and promoting renewable energy infrastructure and strategies such as the solar roof, roadside street lights, solar water pumps as well as promoting renewable energy education and awareness through public outreach campaigns and school programs.
Some of the specific renewable energy projects that are currently underway in Botswana include; the Letlhakane Solar Power Plant, and this 100 MW solar power plant is the largest in Botswana. It was completed in 2020 and is now generating electricity for the national grid.
The Serowe Solar Power Plant, a 50 MW solar power plant is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2024. There is also the Mmamabula Wind Power Plant, a 200 MW wind power plant which is in the planning stages and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Director at Grandhedge International in Ghana, Emmanuella Doreen Kwofie noted that finance is crucial when it comes to issues of mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage. “Africa produces only about three percent of global carbon emissions but African continent is the most vulnerable continent to climate change related issues. This is why the climate vulnerability forum was organized. The Climate Vulnerability Forum is an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet and it consists of about 58 countries with Africa represented by about 23 countries.
The Forum is led by a rotating chair for an ordinary period of two years, with Ghana currently chairing the period 2022 to 2024. The Declaration makes an invitation to global partners to support Africa with their technical and financial resources towards decarbonisation; to establish a new financial architecture, provide a global tax regime to finance climate action such as emissions.
Africa cannot transition rapidly without support from the global community. Such commitments have been made during previous Conference of Parties but have not been fulfilled,” she said, emphasizing that these commitments should not be lip service but steps must be taken to ensure their timely fulfilment.
Marumo said that the Africa Climate Summit was a timely and important event, that clearly indicates that more needs to be done to address the climate crisis in Africa.
