Youth-led climate actions and their roles in the implementation of Article 6 of the convention in Africa Paper presented by Ebrima

S. Dem, during the UNFCCC Article 6 Regional (Africa) workshop, held in The Gambia, 13-16 September 2010. Ebrima S. Dem is the National Representative of Global Unification-The Gambia and program Coordinator for the African Youth Initiative on Climate change (AYICC-The Gambia.

Who we are?
Youngo- abbreviation for Young Non Governmental Organization is the youth constituency recognized provisional by the UNFCCC. Youngo represents the voice of the young people in UNFCCC COPs and other processes. Global Unification-The Gambia-GU, is youth-led community based organization working on climate change. AYICC-African Youth Initiative on Climate Change is loose network of youth organization in Africa working on climate change. The network work on information sharing and best practice for effective participation of African in climate change solution and UNFCCC processes.

Introduction
It is obvious that climate change is posing a major challenge to Africas socio-economic development. Rising sea levels causing flooding, unpredictable rainfall, desertification, biodiversity lost and other problem associated with the changing climate is affecting negatively African economies, thus posing serious challenge to survival as it continue to increase the level of poverty and vulnerability of the people living in the continent, thereby slowing down the process reaching the millennium development goals in Africa. In the Gambia, the country is experiencing quite a significant number of disasters that are of both natural and anthropogenic in origin. The vulnerability and capacity assessment report on the country shows that disasters such as drought, floods, locust invasions, environmental degradation are attributed to the changing climate. The country, due to topography is also prone to inundation .In 1996 there were serious floods in Basse and in 1998 Central River Region. Most communities in the Greater Banjul Area (Banjul and KMC) is less than 1 meter above sea level, where at least heavy rains can easily trigger floods in streets and homes.Also, three years ago, coastal erosion ravaged the Atlantic coastline bringing down buildings and other infrastructure threatening the vital Banjul-Serrekunda Highway. Recent IPCC findings show that Gambia is not unique in this problem. Other African countries suffer a lot from climate change. It is predicted that by the year 2050, developing countries will face serious threat by climate change, with up to 250, 000

million people likely to be without waters, 20 million people will be displaced due to water upraising from the seas, 20 30% of the world animal species will go into extinction due to population explosion and desert encroachment, global temperature will increase by 4.5%. If we are to abide by this prediction, then, we can safely say that Africa has no better time than now to begin planning its adaptation and mitigation to climate change. An urgent and decisive action is needed to stop the climate crises. It is disheartening to learn that despite the numerous problems associated with the changing climate and the risk to survival posed by climate change, there are still number people still denying the science. This, thus, calls for vigorous advocacy, sensitisation and participation of the public in climate change discussion. It is on this reason, the youth of Africa wish to acknowledge that the, article 6 and the amended New Delhi Work Programme (aNDWP) are one of the most significant commitments parties have taken within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We are incognizance that for Africa and indeed the world to win the fight against climate change, the need for education, awareness creation and public participation in climate change solution cannot be overemphasizes. Importance of Youth Participation on Climate change For us to achieve the aim of article six and the amended New Delhi Work Programme ( Awareness, public participation, training, education and international cooperation), the need for young people involvement is very key. According to reports, up to 1.3 billion of the world population is youth. Many of whom lives in developing countries, where they are serving as affective work force, accelerating socio-economic development in their respective countries. Young people also have the skills, the energy, the time willingness and the enthusiasm to become powerful actors in climate change. Thus, we are convinced that little or no headway can be achieved in our drive to get ambitious policies to tackle climate change and realised continent wide climate resilience if the youth are sideline.

Youth Climate Actions in Africa In Africa, young people, has recognised the significant roles they can play in taking actions and influencing policies on climate change. Apart from organizing fora and raising their voice on climate change, they have also embarked on series of step up approaches and impact oriented programs on climate change. In October 2009, young people, from walks of life participated in the 350s global week of climate action with lots activities around the continent such as beach cleanups, planting trees, walking or biking to reach their destinations. Under this program, young

people all over Africa were united for common to call action to stop the climate crises. Activities were organized in all major cities in Africa, from Nairobi, to Serekunda, Cairo to Accra, Kinshasa to Darasalam, with over thousands of people taking part. In November, the same year, in preparation for effective youth representation at the COP 15, youth in the Gambia organized a national consultative forum on youth engagement on climate change. The forum provided effective dialogue among young people on climate change issues. The program lead to the creation of national youth declaration on climate change, presented at the African youth forum during the COP 15. This year, April 25, youth in the Gambia, for the first time, come together to celebrate the Earth Day in the form of beach up. This program which received the support and blessing of the ministry of forestry and environment, were meant to foster youth participation on climate change action in the country and to reemphasize our collective commitment as youth in safe guarding our planet. With support from Actionaid-the Gambia, Global Unification, youth-led research association is running a weekly radio program on climate change entitled climate talk. This program which is carried with slogan; rethinking our future is geared toward raising awareness and promoting public participation on climate change discussion in the country. International Youth Climate Movement In order to harmonize our efforts, share best practices as African youth climate justice advocates; we have established a network call the African youth initiative on climate change. This network, now present in 35 African countries is serving as a tool to represent the voice of African youth in UNFCCC processes. We hoping to expand this network in every country in Africa. As youth, we have also recognized the need to social-media in climate justice work. Through media such as facebook, twitter, myspace, we disseminate information on climate to millions of young users. Challenges face by youth in their participation on climate change In the execution of their work, young people are faced with lot of challenges. This includes: Youth access to information is low, or in most cases absent. Non inclusion of young people in the development of national strategies for sustainable development and decision-making process. Young people continues to be fragmented into small groups, each doing action in their own way. Inadequate financial support to youth-led climate action projects

Little or no recognition of young people efforts on climate change issues

Recommendation We want to ask parties to the convention, through this workshop to consider the follow recommendation on the article 6 and the amended New Delhi Work Program: Education: We want African government to revisit its national education curricula by including climate education at levels in their education ladder-from primary to tertiary level. Since climate change affect all aspect of our daily life climate change education should not be limited to specific science subjects but also be included in other social science subjects such as history, economics etc. In fact, knowledge of agriculture, sustainable development and methods of reducing emissions should be a cross-cutting subjects taught in ways appropriate to each countrys culture and education system. Training: We are calling on African governments to organize capacity building programs on climate change for teachers, who in turn will provide the knowledge to the kids they are teaching. This is important since the quality of information young people received about climate change depend very much on the knowledge and capacity of their teachers. Public awareness: on public awareness, we are asking African government and other stakeholders on climate change to support financially youth-NGOs and youth organizations to provide effective non-formal and peer education on climate change. Through Non-Formal Education (NFE), youth can effectively engage the public on the subject, making climate change consciousness to filter to the daily life of the people. By using NFE and peer education, young people can provide essential supplement to formal education on climate change. Public participation: Gone are the days when experts and academics are seen as the only group to bring about solution to climate change. Young people and local communities, who often bears most, the impact of climate should be empowered and involve in the discussion. There is the saying; he who feels the pain knows what it is like. Since poor communities are facing the more serious consequences of the climate change, their innovation, opinion, and understanding should be sort and their concerns put to into account. International Cooperation: We want young people to be closely engagement in the negotiation and other climate change issues. Young people should serve in

national climate committees and represent their countries (parties) in all COPs and other UNFCCC meetings. Finally, I would like to implore all of us to have in mind that the planet belongs to us, but as well as the future generation. And thus our survival, likewise, their survival should not be taking for granted. Together, we can repair the damage already cause to our planet. Lets save planet for our children, their childrens children. Thank you for the attention.