Tearfund-supported youth and clergy, a part of Renew Our World and Abundant Africa movements, have demanded that climate finance and youth green jobs are on the agenda at this year’s Commonwealth Head of State meeting.
Contained in a letter addressed to Commonwealth Heads of State, the youth campaigners have called on Commonwealth countries demanding the following:
- Rebuild trust with climate-vulnerable nations by ensuring that there is full delivery of the promised $100 billion annually for climate adaptation.
- Ensure that finance reaches local communities on the frontlines of climate change.
- Invest in good green jobs for youth.
Every two years, Heads of Government of all 54 Commonwealth countries meet to discuss and agree on action on areas of common interest, such as the economy, trade, climate and the environment.
This year’s meeting was crucial in the lead-up to what has been dubbed the ‘African COP’, which will take place later this year in Egypt. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the UN regarding climate negotiations. This Commonwealth meeting will be a critical opportunity for developing countries to hone negotiating positions ahead of the subsequent talks in Egypt.
The impact of climate change is already being felt by some of the young climate activists that Renew Our World and Abundant Africa support.
Collins Lungu, 26, from Lusaka, Zambia, heads the Zambia Youth Environmental Network, a group of young people who are campaigning for climate change and environmental care, protection and justice, he said: “I come from a family of farmers and we used to have good yields, in Zambia you could depend on when the rains would come, but not anymore, the rain patterns have drastically changed.
“It has been very hard for communities where they have not been taught about crop diversification because crops keep failing due to climate change. It is important that people learn on this especially those in the frontline who are deep in the rural areas as they are the most affected.”
Lois Abba the communications lead for the Jos Green centre in Nigeria in her contribution stated that Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate change, due to the high amount of greenhouse gases emitted in the country.
“In recent years, Nigeria has been greatly impacted by extreme weather events, leading to floods, desertification, land degradation, droughts, and sand storms. Agricultural activities have been hampered due to these floods and seasons of droughts.
According to her, these climatic abnormalities manifests in the disruption of food supply and the quality of food which is threatening food security in her Country.
In recent times food prices have sky rocketed leaving the poor and vulnerable at risk of hunger and Malnutrition. Our Rural communities are suffering most from the negative impact of flooding, with houses in rural communities collapsing during heavy floods.
It is worthy of note that In 2019 alone, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) revealed that floods had displaced approximately 1.9 million Nigerians, rendering them homeless amidst the economic meltdown.
The movement submitted their calls to CHOGM member Heads of State and Governments, reflecting a keen and ready ability amongst young people to work with leaders to better all Africans and bless the wider world.
