Involving young people in climate talks

Recently appointed UNICEF Young Climate Activists, Ketsia Passou and Emmanuel Jidisa met with Eve Bazaiba, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

During the meeting, Ketsia and Emmanuel recalled that young people living in the DRC are among the most exposed to the effects of climate change, according to a recent report published by UNICEF. By threatening children's health, education and safety, the climate crisis is a crisis of children's rights.

Raising youth voices on the climate crisis

As stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every person under the age of 18 has the right to participate in the decision-making processes that impact them. This includes a public forum to express their views, and support for them to do it. UNICEF is helping young people take action to protect the future of our planet by increasing their voice on the climate crisis and encouraging their participation in the fight against climate change.

"We represent more than half of the population, and if more than half of the population pitches in, there will be far fewer problems," says Ketsia, who is one of the faces of UNICEF's advocacy campaign.

It is necessary to involve young people in all national, regional and international discussions, including at Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow. "I am surprised to see that all these grown-ups deal with children's issues without children. We are paying and will continue to pay for adults' mistakes," Ketsia continues.

Increasing Congolese youth participation to address climate change

The DRC possesses important natural resources, great biodiversity, vast expanses of vegetation and significant water resources. The Congo Basin forest is considered the second green lung of the world after the Amazon in Latin America, but it is threatened by harmful human actions.

Very concerned about the consequences of deforestation, Emmanuel recalled that young people have the power to change things. "If we can get 80% of young people in the DRC to plant trees, we will fight deforestation," he said.

In order to find effective and sustainable solutions to today's problems, young people must be given the opportunity to become agents of change for the climate and environmental cause. "We do not underestimate your capacity, your understanding, your perspective," said Minister Eve Bazaiba.

Far from being passive victims, Congolese youth are mobilising their skills to take a stand for climate action. "We need your voice", concluded the Minister at the end of the meeting.