Young people must be more vigilant, strategic and innovative in influencing debate and driving the response to climate change, which has emerged as one of the world’s biggest development challenges. The involvement of young people will be a key factor in the success or failure of adaptation and mitigation measures across the world. 

This was the challenge to tens of young people from across Africa who gathered at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia from 18-20 October for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regional Youth Summit on Climate Change. The conference was organised by Zambia youth environmental organisation  Green Enviro Watch, with support from COMESA, the World Bank, Government of the Republic of Zambia, and other partners. 

The aim was to enhance youths participation in sustainable development in Africa, and to prepare them for the 17th meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Conference of Parties (COP17) to be held in Durban, South Africa.

At the conference, the head of PSAf’s Environment and Natural Resources Management programme, Mr. Vusumuzi Sifile gave a presentation on “Climate Change Information Development, Management and Dissemination”. The presentation gave the youths an overview of how they can use different approaches toraise awareness, influence dialogue and enhance public participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation. 

“History is full of stories about young people who defied odds and came up with innovations that changed the world,” said Mr. Sifile. 

“As young people, we have a big role to play to ensure sustainable responses to climate change not just in Africa but across the world. The decisions and choices we make today as young people are what will make or destroy the future.” 

The presentation generated a discussion on the role that young people can play in the climate change debate and in influencing the response in their countries. Based on the presentation, the conference recommended some steps that should be taken to enhance youth participation in the climate change response.

Senior officials from the government, COMESA and the World Bank also encouraged the youths to be more active and committed to the climate change response.

Dr McClay Kanyangarara, the COMESA Climate Change Advisor said the world’s population was predominantly young, thus raising the stakes for youth involvement in tackling the world’s development challenges, including climate change.

“Today’s world population is younger than ever before, with nearly 2.2 billion people under the age of 18 of which 85 percent  live in developing countries; most of them in Sub-Saharan Africa where most of the COMESA-EAC-SADC countries are located,” said Dr. Kanyangarara. 

And World Bank country director in Zambia, Ms. Kundhavi Kadirasen encouraged the youths to “be champions” and work hard to influence people around them. 

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Sports, Youth and Gender Mr. Teddy Mulonga also stressed the government’s commitment to support young people and empower them to be more active in national development.

In addition to making a presentation on information development, management and dissemination, PSAf also collaborated with other partners to facilitate the participation of journalists from different parts of Zambia at the conference. This was also to expose them to issues to expect at an international climate change conference, as the countdown to COP17 intensifies.