By: Audrey Raymonda John
The future of our youth is being adversely impacted and will continue to be adversely impacted by the negative consequences of climate change if urgent action is not taken to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. Today, together with councilors on the FCC Climate Change and Environmental Management Committee, staff from the FCC Climate Action and Disaster Management Unit and MDU Climate Action technical support, I met with 25 young people representing 13 different youth led climate organisations.
It was a great opportunity to listen to the youths explaining how climate change is affecting their lives, what climate action they are already taking and what more they believe they could do with the relevant support and collaboration.
It was truly inspiring to hear about plastic recycling initiatives, vertical garden projects, renewable energy aspirations, electric vehicle production, climate awareness and sensitization campaigns and so much more. These youth recognize the problems created by climate change in their communities and are actively involved in implementing solutions.
As the newly elected C40 Cities Co-Chair, mobilizing and supporting greater climate youth awareness and action is among the priorities that I will be promoting at COP28. Local action leads to global impact so I will continue to strengthen our partnerships with the youth organizations at today’s meeting as well as with other youth organizations including the 15 youth led community based organizations (CBOs) that are already planting and monitoring tree growth under the Freetown.