Youth have a role in Africa’s Just Transition to green economy

African youth have the means and the know-how to help Africa’s just transition to green economy, Climate campaigners coalescing under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance said at a virtual forum in Nairobi on Wednesday.

Mithika Mwenda, executive director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance which organisaed the virtual meeting as part of Africa Climate Week, said a green transition was possible in the continent if governments tapped into youth-led innovations.

“There is a need to mainstream youth-led innovations and advocacy into the continent’s green agenda. African youth should play a meaningful role in our transition to an inclusive climate-resilient future,” said Mwenda.

Mwenda said that African youth should be involved in the formulation of national policies and legislation aimed at lowering carbon emissions besides placing them at the frontline of advocacy for climate justice.

Leah Wanambwa, senior policy officer for Climate Change and Desertification at the African Union Commission said that youth-led advocacy has been instrumental in the development of continental action plans that seek to hasten low carbon development.

According to Wanambwa, African youth, women and children have borne the brunt of climatic change-related shocks like hunger, water scarcity, forced migration and resource-based conflicts, hence the need to involve them in designing mitigation and adaptation plans.