Africa-Asian youth gather to share their solutions on climate
Africa-Asia Youth dialogue participants send a clear message: our future is at stake
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At this year's ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum, young people aged 18-22, representing African and ASEAN countries and China, gathered to voice their solutions for the climate crisis at a side-event organized by UNICEF and partners.
This year’s special side event at the ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum co-hosted by UNICEF China, together with the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was a small step towards making sure that young people and their solutions are included.
As we know, the climate crisis is a child’s rights crisis. After all, it is their future that’s at stake.
Young people are playing a key role in addressing climate change by encouraging environmentally sustainable lifestyles. Young people are creating solutions and setting examples for their communities
Indeed, the event was a reminder to decision-makers that young people can be agents of change, and that we all need to advocate for children to be prioritized in climate change mitigation, advocacy and adaptation processes.
Around 170 young people from 20 countries in Africa and Asia shared their understanding of global and regional climate and biodiversity ambitions and exchanged experiences and insights into climate actions that focus on children and adolescents. They discussed nature-based solutions, green finance to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa and Asia, and safeguarding the rights of women and children in regional action on climate.
There’s no denying the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated climate change work globally.
“While we're grappling with the climate crisis, children are also significantly affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," noted Seon Mi Choi, Climate Change and Environment Adviser of East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), "Approximately 150 million additional children are living in multidimensional poverty – without access to essential services. An additional 22 million children in Southeast Asia fell into poverty in 2020. 325 million children’s education was disrupted.”
Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative to Senegal highlighted the vicious cycle of climate change and vulnerability.
Not only do climate and environmental hazards negatively affect children’s access to key essential services, but children’s lack of access to key essential services also reduces their resiliency and adaptive capacity, further increasing their vulnerability to climate and environmental hazards
Addressing the climate crisis requires all of society to act; services for children need to incorporate climate resilience and environmental sustainability; schools need the capacity to teach green skills; and children and young people need to be given the space to lead and participate in climate actions.
UNICEF, together with government and other partners, takes climate actions to protect children’s rights by applying technology and innovations. Dr. Sam Godfrey, Regional Adviser of Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), presented four cases from Africa in his lead remarks, the use of technology and innovations in climate adaptations inspired young participants’ discussions. Sujay Natson, Climate Change and Environment Consultant from EAPRO introduced the recently published Principles and Policy Guidance on Children’s Rights to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment in the ASEAN Region.
The youth pledges that came out of these meetings demonstrate the willingness of young people to lead. The youth representatives are calling for ASEAN-China and Africa-China environmental cooperation to continue to contribute to the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development by fostering a low-carbon, resilient, and inclusive post-pandemic recovery; active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts; greater capacity of young people in ASEAN, Africa and China to mitigate and adapt to climate change with more environmentally friendly lifestyle and consumer choices.
