PACJA supported African youth advocacy engages at the Carnegie Mellon University clinic in Kigali

Kigali, 16- 19 May 2022: The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) last week supported 15 young people from ten African countries to attend the SEforALL Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda — the first time it held in an African country.

Alongside the Forum, the PACJA, World Resource Institute (WRI), Wangari Mathai Foundation, Children Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), SEforALL and Carnegie Mellon University cohosted a pre-event Youth Summit that aimed to empower young people to engage more confidently at the main forum where for the first time there was a sponsored Youth Lounge.

Damilola Ogunbiyi the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, said the inclusion of the youth was a milestone since this was the first time this was being done.

The advocacy clinic was held to help youth have a better understanding of the nuances and complexities that revolve around energy and just transition to better communicate and boost their advocacy efforts in their respective countries on both mainstream and digital media.

Harnessing the power of their voices is crucial in ensuring that we get to experience clean and sustainable energy in the world.

H.E Mary Robinson former President of Ireland was at the forefront of championing the youth participation at the forum and urged the youth to clamour to sit at the table where policies are formulated and implemented.

“We must include the youth on the discussions around energy transition,” said H.E. Robinson.

Youth activists across Africa have been very vocal in the calling for governments, private sector and other non-state actors to accelerate the progress in the decade for action.

Amplifying their powerful messages and as the largest youth generation in history, young people are increasingly creating space and speaking platforms at the largest global forums and conferences in the sustainable energy and climate space.

The workshop aimed at among others to map out the various issues that the youth face in their work that revolve around tokenism which has been an incessant problem, greenwashing among other issues. The youth were brought together to also consolidate the voice of the youth towards the road to COP27 and how those messages must be poignant and deliver the mandate of COP27 in ensuring an equitable energy and just transition.

The session was attended by 50 youth drawn from across Africa were supported with the necessary data-driven tools that they need to continue to amplify their messages and hold duty bearers accountable for their actions and commitments towards SDG7