National Stakeholders Workshop on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change 24th-25th February 2011

Ibrahim Ceesay Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) www.ayicc.net Ibrahim.ceesay@ayicc.net

African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC)

A loose youth network that was conceived in 2006 in Nairobi Kenya, during the 2ND International Climate Conference of Youth (COY) held just before the UNFCCC COP 12. AYICC coordinates youths efforts on climate change and environmental sustainability with National Chapters in over 38 African Countries. This initiative has continued to link, share knowledge, ideas, experiences, skills and strategies on youth action around Africa on climate change mitigation and adaptation. It has been identified by most African youths to have the potential to provide a platform for them to address their regional challenges on climate change

Background Information
Climate change is considered to be one of the most serious threats to sustainable development, with adverse impacts expected on the environment, human health, food security, economic activity, natural resources and physical Infrastructure. The impacts of climate change therefore affect our response to other development agendas in the Gambia like the Millennium Development Goals, country strategic plans and vision. Climate change presents significant threats to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals especially those related to eliminating poverty and hunger and promoting environmental sustainability.

Recent IPCC findings show that by the year 2050, developing countries will face a threat of 250, 000 million people without waters, 20 million people will be displaced(homeless) 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 of the forest. The global temperature will increase by 4.5% by the year 2050 (IPCC), Gambia has no better time than now to begin to plan adaptation to climate change before this doom befall us in 2050. Towards the end of the 21st century, projected sea-level rise will affect low-lying coastal areas with large populations. The cost of adaptation could amount to at least 5-10% of GDP. Mangroves are projected to be further degraded, with additional consequences for fisheries and tourism

Communities and societies in general have long been adapting to climate changes, but these adaptations have typically been discrete and reactive. The idea that adaptation to climate change should be planned, proactive, and anticipatory is relatively new and is an important element of CBA. The focus within the UNFCCC on nationallevel adaptation, for example through National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), tends to prioritize nationallevel priorities with lesser considerations for communitybased ones. The danger is that such national initiatives may actually harm local or indigenous groups if they do not take account of local practices.

Introduction to Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change

Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change

Since climate change affects communities differently according to their respective vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities, adaptation must be locally specific and appropriate to the context. Top-down management approaches were simply unsuccessful in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities. As a result many feel it is important to adopt a new strategy, which directly involves vulnerable people themselves in planning and implementation of adaptation measures.

Definition of Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change

This bottom-up approach has received wide acceptance because communities are considered the best judges of their own vulnerability and can make the best decisions regarding their own well-being CBA to climate change aims to enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems to projected effects of climate change. Reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen peoples capacity to cope with climate stress. A thorough assessment of a communitys exposure to climate hazards and an analysis of their specific vulnerabilities and capacities is the basis for activities, projects and programs that can help them adapt.

Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change Because a community is involved in the whole process, their felt and real needs, as well as inherent resources, are considered. The best CBA projects and activities combine local knowledge with scientific knowledge. CBA responds to pressing local adaptation needs, draws upon local knowledge, fosters community-driven innovation, and supplements community capacity with knowledge and material resources. CBA allows for experimentation, helps improve local capacity to adapt, and makes it easier to identify and to share information about best practices. CBA projects increase resilience by ensuring that local actors are aware of why local conditions are changing and what they are adapting to.

Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change Consequently, CBA projects can inform local, regional, national and global policy.. CBA takes a variety of forms, from mainstreamed (integrated into existing or planned development projects) to direct (developing local projects aimed at addressing discrete adaptation needs). Despite variations of form, all CBA recognizes the need for context-specific adaptation projects that identify local vulnerabilities, draw upon local knowledge and capacity, improve local adaptive capacity, and directly involve local stakeholders. CBA is thus a promising approach to considering gender and ensuring that both men and women are able to adapt to a changing climate.

Why are African Youths Key in Climate Actions (Adaptation and Mitigation)
Article 11 of the African Youth Charter guarantees the right of youth participation in all major issues on the continent. Africa has a youthful population and youths are the power house of every African nation The importance of engaging the next generation of decision makers those who will feel the brunt of the negative impacts of climate change has been widely agreed upon.

Youths bring along potentials for change through innovation, differed approaches and lots of energy through their participating in policy making and implementation by creating new types of practicable and real solutions to their everyday problems including those caused by climate change.

 Youth and future generations will inherit the climate system in whichever way governments decide to leave it The fight against catastrophic climate change can succeed only if it forges a permanent LINK with social-justice campaigns

Role of Youths in Adaptation

Engaging young people in actions to address climate change is a critical element to any nation's strategy and a significant contribution to sustainable development for years to come Youth are an important source of creativity, enthusiasm and drive for any actions to address climate change

Youth Climate Actions

Holistic and intergenerational approaches to fight climate change seem to be one of the viable options if we are to realize our developmental goals, the role of youth need not to be over-emphasized. The official recognition of the UNFCCC Youth Constituency YOUNGO is key in amplifying youth participation in UNFCCC processes and building a robust International Youth Climate Movement

The Youth Climate Movement In COP15 (Case Study) We saw the worlds largest demonstrations on climate change 100,000 in the streets of Copenhagen on December 12th, 90,000 across Australia on the same day, and 3000 events around the world. We saw one of the largest petitions in history 15 million for a fair, ambitious, and binding global treaty. We saw a spirit of collaboration amongst NGOs unlike any seen before within the climate movement. 350.org, Avaaz.org, and TckTckTck pulled off three international days of climate action in the course of three months, with more than 10,000 total events in 181 different countries. Thursday December 17th marked a Hunger for Survival global fast for climate justice where over 10,000 people worldwide gave up food in solidarity with three people who had consumed nothing but food and salt for 43 days to call attention to the urgency of climate action. Despite all but 300 individuals getting kicked out of the Bella Center for the two day Heads of State Summit, the presence of civil society in the negotiations remained powerful.

 Grassroots, national and international climate advocacy and campaigns ( 350.org Global Week of Climate Action in over 88 Countries of the World, Billion Tree Campaign, Organizing Regional Youth Summits on Climate Change, Conference of Youths during the UNFCCC meetings of parties, side events, demonstrations, petitions, open letters, observing environmental days forums and training workshops). Promoting mass information, education and communication on climate change and how young people from Africa have been contributing to reversing the threat of climate change and the implementation of Article 6 in Africa.

 Awareness raising, information and using traditional knowledge as well as strengthening youths networks in mitigation and adaptation efforts (AYICC Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Mauritius, Malawi, Tanzania, and Cameroon) Radio and TV Programmes, Community Outreaches, Waste Management Initiatives, Social Media (Face book and Twitter) Theatre and Music e.g. (AYICC Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, Togo, Benin Republic, Ivory Coast and The Gambia) Solar Pots and Cookers Project in AYICC Niger (reducing the burden of women and young girls from fetching firewood's by walking long distance

AYICC Best Practices and Climate Actions

Massive Tree Planting Campaigns

The 3C Campaign; Create To Inform, Communicate To Empower, Celebrate Our Actions AYICC-KENYA

ECO-GIRLS PROJECT AYICC NIGERIA

AYICC Participation at The 7TH African Development Forum October 2010 Theme: Acting on Climate Change for Sustainable Development in Africa ECA Supported 15 Youths

 Lack of access to information that would empower youth to understand the decision-making process and substantively contribute to policy formation. In the development of national strategies for sustainable development, young people were not included on advisory bodies or in other aspects of the decision-making process. Youth engagement continues to be fragmented and sporadic at best. A bit of participation here and there will not serve any useful purpose and can be interpreted as involving youth only for the purpose of satisfying a requirement or as a symbolic act without real consequences or recognition of youth as partners in the development of solutions. Youth are often incorporated in the later stages of policy and decision-making. Often, their work takes place in parallel events and is not integrated into official processes.

Challenges Encountered by Youths

Challenges Encountered by Youths 2

There persists an absence of support to projects, networks, and national youth non-governmental organizations to involve youth in project identification, design, implementation and follow-up on climate change. The lack of capacity and resources for youths to engage in climate change adaptation.

Challenges encountered by youths

Despite the fact that numerous international youth climate events have produced excellent recommendations for progress, there is little evidence that governments have obtained, acknowledged and explained how this input from youth will be used in the development of their climate policies.

AYICC Key Upcoming Activities 2011-2012

African Youth Climate Summit- August 2011 Billion Tree Campaign Solar Community Radio Stations- Pilot Project TV Documentary on Youth and Climate Change in Africa Green Schools Initiative Youths in Disaster Risk Reduction Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change FULL participation in UNFCCC meetings especially COP 17 Durban-South Africa and other climate change relate events

Way Forward
Government should start developing plan that addresses an enabling environment for participation of women and young people at the local, national regional and international level in decision making on climate change and activities to implement these decisions. Including youths as part of official delegates to UNFCCC meetings and other climate change related activities Provide youths led groups with resources for climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives

FOR OUR FUTURE CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW!

Thank You!!!