Anticipation is building as youth from 37 African countries prepare to convene in Nairobi on August 16 and 17 for a pivotal event centered around climate-induced mobility.
Organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the youth engagement forum is poised to tackle challenges and highlight opportunities related to climate change on the African continent.
At the heart of this event lies the creation of essential messages for the forthcoming “Global Youth Statement.” These messages are poised to set the tone for two significant events: the Africa Climate Summit and Africa Climate Week, both scheduled to take place next month in Nairobi and hosted jointly by the African Union (AU) and Kenya.
Beyond the continental stage, these messages will echo powerfully as voices of influence at the COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), slated for November.
Rose Kobusinge, a distinguished climate advocate from the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change and Youth Convention, highlighted the dual significance of the event.
It will empower African youth leaders to contribute to policy development while fostering collaborations that can drive impactful action on climate change at both local and global levels.
Designed to empower participants, the forum will feature interactive sessions aimed at equipping young individuals with the skills to effectively address the complex interplay of migration, environment, and climate change.
These sessions will also shine a spotlight on successful youth-led initiatives that offer innovative approaches to tackling challenges and identifying opportunities for human mobility within the context of climate change.
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Kobusinge emphasized, “The potential impacts of climate-induced migration touch us all. Vulnerable communities face the consequences of displacement and loss driven by climate-related factors. These issues can be mitigated through well-planned, secure, and systematic migration strategies.”
Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa, underlined IOM’s commitment to amplifying the voices of young people.
He stated, “IOM is dedicated to providing young people with increased access to platforms that enable them to influence the policies that will shape their futures.”
Additionally, the forum is strategically positioned as a stepping stone for the broader dissemination of the Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC-AFRICA).
Serving as the inaugural regional policy framework addressing the intricate interplay of climate change and human mobility, KDMECC-AFRICA is set for expansion across the continent.
The insights and perspectives generated during this youth forum will be seamlessly integrated into the KDMECC-AFRICA, ensuring practical implementation of commitments.
As the event in Nairobi draws nearer, it emerges as a promising catalyst, spotlighting the essential role of African youth in steering climate discourse and action.
Their voices, poised to resonate through forums such as this, hold the potential to drive substantial change not only within Africa but also on the global stage.
