Youth in African sustainability and climate change advocacy: Impacts and challenges
Climate change awareness remains significantly low in many African countries, despite the escalating records of climate extremes in the region. In regions across North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia, awareness rates exceed 90%. Conversely, only 30%, 25% and a mere 21% of Nigerians, Egyptians and Liberians are aware of climate change respectively. Unlike other regions, Africa actually has better potential for increased climate change awareness because it has a higher youth population and youths are widely known for their strength in driving change through advocacy. A typical example of this is the youth-led EndSARS advocacy against police brutality in Nigeria. Some African youths are noticeably driving climate change advocacy across the continent, but their impact is limited due to several challenges. This article highlights the roles and impacts that some African youths have made in sustainability and climate change advocacy and some of the challenges that should be addressed to gain maximum results.
Roles and Impacts in sustainability and climate change advocacy
As African youths are becoming more aware of climate change and sustainability issues, they are rising to demand action from governments, businesses, and international organisations to mitigate the impacts of climate change and reduce carbon emissions through protests, social media campaigns, and lobbying. Leah Namugerwa, for example, is an 18-year-old Uganda climate activist who leads plastic bag ban enforcement activism and tree planting campaigns. Research shows that Africa accounts for the greatest loss of forest area in the world (see Figure 1). East African countries record the highest deforestation rate in the continent, and Uganda specifically lost roughly 41.6% of its forest cover to deforestation over the last 100 years, leading to greenhouse gases buildup, loss of habitat for animals and birds, increase in climate change extremes and food insecurity. To tackle the challenge of deforestation in her country, Leah planted 200 trees 3 years ago and she continuously calls on the government of Uganda to fully implement the Paris Climate Agreement.
Figure 1: Percentage change in forest area worldwide between 1990 and 2020, by region
Furthermore, African youths are innovating context-specific solutions to address sustainability and climate change challenges, by using technology and local knowledge to create renewable energy sources, sustainable agriculture practices, and conservation efforts. For example, the continent’s vulnerability to the increasing impacts of climate change extremes like heavy rainfall and flooding, and intense drought has significantly contributed to a decline in crop yield and livestock production, leading to a rise in food insecurity in many African regions (see figure 2). To address this challenge, Masinde built ITIKI, an artificial intelligence (AI) driven drought and rainfall forecast tool to help African smallholder farmers adequately predict the weather with the aim of avoiding continuous loss of crops and livestock on farms. Mtine-Makumbi also built AgriPredict, a risk management tool aided by AI to help farmers diagnose common plant pests and diseases. These agritech tools are enhancing farmers’ climate change adaptation efforts, thereby advancing crop and livestock production, and improving the state of food insecurity in Africa.
Figure 2: Prevalence of severe food insecurity in Africa from 2014 to 2021, by sub-region
Additionally, there is a growing participation of young people in policy development and decision-making processes related to climate change. Youth representation in national and international forums is increasing. According to reports, a significant percentage of the over 30,000 attendees of COP27 were youths from Africa demanding change and action. The role of African youths in sustainability and climate change advocacy is critical as they bring fresh perspectives, innovation, and a strong commitment to creating a more sustainable and resilient Africa. However, for their efforts to yield meaningful results, there is an urgent need to address the following challenges.
Challenges to African youths’ involvement in sustainability and climate change advocacy
First is a growing concern about political instability and a rising trend of climate change denial, among elected government officials in Africa. This scepticism contradicts the well-established scientific consensus attributing global warming to human activities. Consequently, in countries where these officials hold sway, youth-led climate initiatives may encounter formidable barriers to success. In addition to this, youth climate activists often face competition with other pressing priorities in their countries, including poverty, health, and education, which makes it challenging to convince governments and communities to prioritise climate action over immediate needs.
Furthermore, limited access to essential resources, including financial support, technology, and training impedes their capacity to execute initiatives and campaigns. Economic vulnerability, a widespread challenge among many young individuals in Africa, curtails their capacity to actively participate in advocacy efforts. This is because many find themselves compelled to prioritise earning a livelihood for their survival over engaging in activism, in addition to the fact that most of these initiatives often depend on short-term funding, making it difficult to sustain long-term climate action projects. Also, inadequate climate change education and the lack of mentorship from experienced individuals and organisations, leave young individuals ill-prepared to comprehend and address climate change and sustainability issues or craft effective advocacy strategies and campaigns.
Finally, language diversity in multilingual regions creates communication barriers, necessitating the addressing of language challenges to ensure effective engagement. Despite these formidable challenges, African youth remain unwavering in their commitment to addressing climate change and advancing sustainability in the region. They continue to devise innovative solutions to surmount these obstacles and foster collaborations with local and international partners, amplifying their voices and driving positive change. However, tackling these challenges is critical for maximum impact.
There is a need for joint support from governments, NGOs, and the global community in multiple ways. African youths should be encouraged to participate in climate change decision-making processes. Governments and organisations should invest in accessible and quality education in environmental sciences, sustainability, and related fields. Additionally, mentorship programs and guidance should be readily available to young environmentalists and entrepreneurs. Finally, provisions for financial support should be made to fund youth-led initiatives, startups, and projects focused on climate action and sustainability.
About the Author(s)
Olayide Oyeleke is an associate at The AR Initiative; where Dr Emma Etim is the Head of Research.
