The United Nations is calling upon young people to take the lead in addressing climate change, which in turn can help tackle various social challenges, such as insecurity, food security, and unemployment, prevalent in African societies.
By embracing climate action, the continent can make progress towards meeting the Global sustainable development goals.
During a hybrid meeting with youths and journalists on Saturday, the United Nations emphasized the need to create awareness and prepare Africa for the impacts of climate change.
Experts have expressed concerns over the devastating effects of climate change on the environment in the past decade, with warnings that the next 10 years could be even more catastrophic.
Different regions are experiencing varying climate challenges, ranging from global warming to heavy rain volumes resulting in floods and other issues. Africa is also facing these climate challenges, despite contributing less than 4% of total emissions to the problem.
To address this urgent issue, the conveners of the African youth leaders dialogue recognize the importance of engaging in conversations on how to deal with climate change. Financing has been identified as a difficulty faced by entrepreneurs working on climate adaptation projects, but the United Nations is actively working on addressing this aspect.
Mr. Ilan, one of the converters, emphasizes the significance of intentionally building sustainable systems like his hub as a way forward. Nigerian youths are particularly urged to demand climate action for sustainable practices to avoid the harsh realities of future climate impacts.
The United Nations’ call to empower youth to take climate action is vital in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.
With conscious efforts and intentional sustainable practices, African societies can work towards a more resilient and environmentally responsible future.