A Climate Stance For The African Youth At #AYCA23 - The Africa Youth Climate Declaration
Sept 3rd 2023
Recommendations presented in the Africa Youth Climate Declaration entail a wide range of actions aimed at empowering youth and advancing green growth initiatives in Africa. With the recognition of AYCA as the central platform for coordinating youth involvement across member states beyond #ACS in order to advance the green growth agenda, expediting the creation of a Global Green Bank under the African Union, and advocating for a green fund to support young entrepreneurs. Additionally, the declaration highlights the importance of youth participation in climate decision-making, capacity-building for climate action, and resilience efforts for children and youth. Furthermore, the recommendations highlight the need for inclusivity, especially for youth with disabilities, and the establishment of policies to protect and empower climate migrants, particularly the youth, ensuring access to fundamental rights and support services.
Recommendations presented in the Africa Youth Climate Declaration entail a wide range of actions aimed at empowering youth and advancing green growth initiatives in Africa. With the recognition of AYCA as the central platform for coordinating youth involvement across member states beyond #ACS in order to advance the green growth agenda, expediting the creation of a Global Green Bank under the African Union, and advocating for a green fund to support young entrepreneurs. Additionally, the declaration highlights the importance of youth participation in climate decision-making, capacity-building for climate action, and resilience efforts for children and youth. Furthermore, the recommendations highlight the need for inclusivity, especially for youth with disabilities, and the establishment of policies to protect and empower climate migrants, particularly the youth, ensuring access to fundamental rights and support services.
On the final day of #AYCA23 that convened youth from all across Africa for 3 days in Nairobi, Kenya with consultations in regards to Climate Change in Africa, the culmination of the assembly #AYCA23 entailed the presentation of the Africa Youth Climate Declaration, a significant outcome of #AYCA23, during a high-level Closing Ceremony, featuring a Presidential Dialogue with #AYCA23 youth delegates and the President of the Republic of Kenya H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto and the President of the African Development Bank.
During the High-Level Presidential Dialogue several crucial topics were addressed, including Africa’s pursuit of Sustainable Economic Growth, the promotion of Green Skills, Green Jobs and the accessibility of finances and resources in the Green Economy for the African Youth, as well as how as a continent, Africa can Mobilise International Resources and Support to address the increased vulnerabilities in our continent while empowering the youth and local communities, the designing of new financing instruments and reformation of the current multilateral development banks.
The conversation also delved into Just Transition Projects and how Africa should position itself in these discussions, evaluating its feasibility and how bankable it is. H.E. President William Samoei Ruto stated, ‘We need a candid conversation on the countries that have huge resources of fossil fuel energy and how we transition that are exploiting those resources into the green space.’
President of the Africa Development Bank Akinwumi Adesina also mentioned that in terms of green energy, ‘Natural gas must be part of the energy mix of Africa to be able to drive stability of our grid, he further went on to state that no size fits all, and every nation should be allowed to use what it has while being mindful of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.
