The international gathering of governments and climate stakeholders in Sharm-El-Sheikh dedicates today, 10 November to youth and future generations.
Climate change makes no distinctions – whatever demographic you fit into, wherever you are in the world, the impacts of increased extreme weather events, and rising temperatures have dire consequences.
There is however, one group of people for whom the stakes are highest: young people. Their rights to a future with clean air and water, a stable climate, healthy oceans, food security, and a thriving biodiversity are severely threatened by any delays or unwillingness on the part of wider humanity to accelerate climate actions needed to avoid a global catastrophe.
One of Egypt’s goals of its COP27 Presidency is to ensure that the voice of young people is heard “loud and clear”. The day is set to platform the climate change challenges faced by youth. It will enable them to engage with policymakers and practitioners and recognize their successes in global climate advocacy.
Approximately a quarter of the world’s population are aged between 10 to 24 - a figure which rises to around 42% when everyone under 25 is included. By far the greatest proportion of them (around 88%) live in lower- or middle-income countries where climate change impacts are heaviest and where the majority of the world’s poorest live. Research has shown that young people living in poverty are much likelier to suffer climate change related environmental toxins and severe health consequences, including risk of death, from extreme weather events. Their counterparts in wealthier economies are (up to) 150 times less likely to suffer the same risks. This is a huge injustice given that low- and middle-income countries have contributed the least to climate change.
How CIF enables young climate advocates
CIF recognizes the power of young people’s climate action and acknowledges that decisions affecting our climate are usually made by older people in government or corporate meeting rooms – the voice of youth is limited or excluded. CIF aims to change this unjust situation bringing youth to the table via internships, entrepreneurial adaptation awards and finance training workshops.
During COP26, CIF published a Consultation Note Towards a Youth Engagement Strategy (YES). It seeks to increase participation of youth voices and is designed to work with young people on policy advocacy, political activism, and collaborate with their efforts to fast-track access to clean energy and technology, local climate resilience, and sustainable land management in developing and emerging economies.
Over the last year, CIF engaged with youth via internships, entrepreneurial adaptation awards and climate finance training workshops.
By saying YES to youth, CIF is leading the way in changing decision-making dynamics of climate action. This is important because listening to, and embracing perspectives, ideas, energy, and enthusiasm of those who will inherit the future, will ultimately secure a future for us all.