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Africa’s Gen Z demanded COP27 tackle climate emergency

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Nairobi, Kenya
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At this year’s COP27, young African climate activists demanded for actions and not words. Africa has been the worst hit by the effects of climate change. This year’s Young Africa session revealed adaptation and funding as priorities to curb the climate emergency.

According to the UN, more than 30 million people from the Horn of Africa are in need of food, shelter, and medical services.

Despite efforts being undertaken by nations across the African continent in fighting climate change, the effects are being felt mostly within poorer communities.

Dubbed the ‘African COP’, this year’s COP27 allowed for young voices to be heard. Many African climate activists offered their concerns about the continent’s climate effects and how world leaders are not doing enough.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Leaders Summit COP27, 18-year-old Leah Namugerwa from Uganda said young people have been forced to grow and think like adults and take actions on their hands. Namugerwa is on a mission to plant more than a million trees in her home country.

Leah noted that world leaders chose profits over lives through greenhouse gas emitting companies that are worsening the climate situation. Africa is responsible for less than 4% of global emissions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCumAxFj8Sw&ab_channel=UnitedNations

Fellow Ugandan youth climate activist Vanessa Nakate protested outside the COP27 summit demanding justice from oil companies who continue to exploit African nations.

She accused world leaders of supporting new fossil fuel projects that increase global temperatures and warned that African nations cannot adapt to extreme weather conditions.

During this year’s Africa Climate Week session held in Gabon, the UNDP said the continent has the potential to provide the best solutions for a secure climate-resilient future, thanks to a young, innovative population.

This year, African Gen Zers demanded climate finance from Western nations to commit to their pledges on ensuring the fight against climate change is achieved.

The financial pledge is meant to assist developing countries mitigate the devastating effects of climate change.

By 2030, according to the UN, Africa is expected to be given no less than $52 billion to fight climate change. This financial support is expected to be from developed countries who continue to emit the highest rate of greenhouse gases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LNfpeRz5SE&ab_channel=Reuters

The COP27 Youth and Future Generation Day greatly assisted to widen the narrative around the continent as an innovation hub of opportunities and solutions. Social media has provided opportunities to participate through climate justice conferences too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RdovE0bDys&ab_channel=AfDBGroup

At COP27, the Global Center on Adaptation, the African Development Bank and Climate Investment Funds (CIF) set up a competition.

Up to 20 African youth-led enterprises won grant funding of up to $100,000 each at the African Youth Adaptation Solutions Challenge (YouthADAPT) competition to help them expand their innovations and create jobs.

The program is meant to boost the UN’s sustainable job creation and independence by supporting entrepreneurship and youth-led innovations in Africa.

During the ceremony, the African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina pledged a $4 million next year investment to innovative African youths during COP28. Such investments will boost a future of youth-led opportunities in climate action.

Writer Nairobi, Kenya

I’m Derrick (He/Him), a Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. Currently I write about trending topics and major issues affecting Africa for Thred, specifically concerning SDGs. View my Twitter here if you’d like to send me feedback.

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