Climate change activists and conservationists are calling for more funds to be allocated to youth-led initiatives geared toward environmental protection.
They also suggest for ‘big funders’ to adopt a policy of allocating a specific quarter of funds to youth.
The call was made as they reacted to the upcoming 35th Meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board scheduled for March 2023 and will be held in Rwanda.
The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest climate fund, mandated to support developing countries to raise and realise their climate action plans towards low-emission, climate-resilient development.
The decision for Rwanda to host the high-profile meeting was announced at the recent GCF Board Meeting in South Korea.
Speaking about her expectations from the meeting, Honorine Isingizwe, an environmentalist who is also the Executive Director at Young Volunteers for the Environment (YVE), GCF board meeting will present a unique opportunity for Rwanda but also called for the involvement of the youth in all aspects of climate planning.
Isingizwe also pointed out that GCF has funds that can be very beneficial in mitigating climate change if the criteria of accessing the money accommodates and funds youth innovative ideas.
More than 300 people from civil society, private sector, Nationally Designated Authorities, and Accredited Entities to the GCF as well as board members are expected to attend the meeting.
“Considering that GCF finances are allocated mainly to projects in developing countries, of which, there are many in Africa, it’s an opportunity for Africa for the board to seat in Kigali. Young people need not only to be invited but to sit at the high table where decisions are made,” said Philip Anderson Samura, a Climate Change enthusiast, who is also the Secretary-General of Fellows of Conservation Club at the African Leadership University (ALU).
He added that 70 per cent of Africa’s population are young people and they are the custodians of innovative projects that mitigate climate change.
Attendees will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the country’s efforts to address climate change, including through projects funded by Green Climate Fund.
